Vest Likely Saved Mich. Police K-9 Stabbed in Molotov Cocktail Attack
What to know
- A Grand Rapids police K-9 is recovering after being stabbed by a suspect who was fatally shot by officers during a violent confrontation.
- The incident began with a domestic threat involving a knife and escalated as the suspect threw a Molotov cocktail at police, attempted a carjacking, and fled through a neighborhood.
- Police deployed the K-9 to subdue the suspect, who was shot after charging at officers with a knife; the dog is expected to recover and could return to duty.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI—A police dog is expected to fully recover after being stabbed by a man who was then shot and killed by police.
The K-9, Digo, has been released from an animal emergency hospital and is recovering at home with his handler.
The dog suffered a stab wound to the head.
Marks on the dog’s vest indicated it would have suffered potentially fatal stab wounds to the body, Grand Rapids police said
The identity of the man who was killed by police has not been released.
The incident began around 1:15 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the 1000 block of Alpine Avenue NW when police responded to a report that the man threatened family members with a knife.
The man came out of a house and allegedly threw a lit Molotov cocktail at police, which set a patrol car on fire. The man ran from the house while police tried to negotiate with him.
He allegedly tried to carjack a motorist at knifepoint but was unsuccessful. He also attempted to enter another house before fleeing through the neighborhood, police said.
Police released the dog in an effort to subdue the man.
The man was shot after charging at officers with a knife, police said.
The K-9 is expected to return to duty.
“At this point, we expect Digo will return to the K9 team, but will have to evaluate his fitness for duty when he is fully healed,” Deputy Chief P.J. Baker said in a statement.
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