San Diego Police K-9 Recovering after Being Strangled by Suspect

Bowie, a San Diego police K-9, was sent into an apartment during a SWAT standoff, and that's when the suspect allegedly strangled and injured the dog.

Dec. 18, 2025

2 min read

What to know

A San Diego police K-9 was injured during a SWAT standoff after officers deployed the dog to arrest a suspect barricaded in an apartment.
Police said the suspect, wanted for allegedly striking a woman with a baseball bat, refused commands, fired a pellet gun at officers and allegedly strangled the K-9 before being taken into custody.
The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois was treated and released from a veterinary hospital and is expected to recover.

By Karen Kucher

Source The San Diego Union-Tribune

A San Diego police dog injured during a SWAT standoff in the Gaslamp Quarter was treated and released from a veterinary hospital Wednesday afternoon, police officials said.

Officers had sent the dog, Bowie, into an apartment Tuesday afternoon as they tried to arrest a suspect wanted in connection with hitting a woman over the head with a baseball bat on Friday.

Police had tried to serve an arrest warrant early in the day, but the man refused to come out of his apartment near Second and West Island avenues, said police spokesperson Lt. Cesar Jimenez. SWAT officers were called after officers were told the man might be armed, and they tried several “less-lethal” methods, but he still refused to come out, police said.

At one point, he fired a pellet gun at officers, Jimenez said.

Police finally sent the dog into the apartment, and that’s when the suspect allegedly attacked the dog, strangling it and injuring its throat, Jimenez said. He said officers went in after the dog and placed the suspect under arrest.

Bowie has been on the police force for about two years and was expected to recover, Jimenez said. He is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois.

The department posted a short video of the dog being led on a leash by an officer on its Instagram page. “After some more love and treats, we hope to see him back in the field soon,” the department said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, assault on an officer and cruelty to an animal, Jimenez said.

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