Feb. 02--COLLINSVILLE -- Blaze the police dog was run over Tuesday night by an ATV swerving toward a police officer, and Collinsville police are seeking the driver.
Blaze is a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, similar to a German shepherd. He's been riding with Officer Mike Bauer for two years, so patrol on Tuesday night was standard procedure.
Bauer stopped in the 500 block of Elm Street to let Blaze out for a break about 7:45 p.m. While they were there, Bauer said a yellow all-terrain vehicle came eastbound along the road, which is illegal in Illinois.
Bauer said he shone his flashlight in a waving motion to warn the ATV, and the driver swerved toward him. He jumped out of the way and Blaze jumped forward as the ATV struck him.
"He flew about 20 feet and miraculously, he got back up," Bauer said.
The ATV driver fled the scene, and Bauer took Blaze to a local 24-hour animal hospital while other officers searched the area.
Blaze suffered a bruised lung and trauma to his liver, but no broken bones. He is currently being treated for his injuries, but is expected to survive.
As is standard for K-9 units, Blaze patrols every day with Bauer and lives with him and his family. "When I'm on duty, he's on duty, where I go he goes," Bauer said. "It's like having a kid, almost -- he's with you 24-7."
Assistant Police Chief Tom Coppotelli said there is specific charge for injuring a police dog on duty, though details were not immediately available.
But Bauer said it's not just about Blaze. "This is an animal first, and a police dog, but it could easily have been a person," he said. "ATVs are fun, but use them for what they're intended to be used for. Stay off the streets."
The driver was described as a male wearing a helmet and goggles, age unknown. The vehicle was a yellow four-wheeler with a chrome or silver brush guard in front, two to four headlights and had a very loud exhaust.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call Collinsville Police at 344-2131 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
Contact reporter Elizabeth Donald at [email protected] or 239-2501.
