A man suspected of running a chop shop at his Centerville home tried to kill a sheriff's office dog and was bloodied in a fight with the dog and deputies, said Lt. Sheila Cole of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.
She said Russell Andrew Grant very aggressively resisted, beginning with punching, kicking, trying to choke and trying to break the neck of a sheriff's office dog that found Grant late Thursday morning in a crawl space.
The dog, a German shepherd named Hyco, and his handler, Cpl. Brandon Surratt, fought Grant and forced him to an air vent, where other deputies removed him as he continued to fight, according to warrants.
Hyco was treated by a veterinarian after the fight.
"He received some hard blows but he'll be OK," Cole said.
Grant, 34, is accused of altering or disassembling eight stolen vehicles, mostly Honda Civics and Accords.
He was taken to AnMed Health Medical Center for dog bite injuries from the struggle and was taken to the Anderson County Detention Center afterward.
Grant has been charged with nine counts of operating a chop shop, four counts of resisting arrest and one count of trying to kill a police dog.
His wife, Amanda Grant, 24, was charged with three counts of operating a chop shop and one count of hindering officers serving a warrant. Her brother, Matthew Martin, 28, was charged with hindering officers serving a warrant.
Cole said Amanda Grant told deputies that her husband had left. Deputies had been watching the home with a helicopter and had not seen anyone leave, Cole said.
The three have not had a bond hearing and remained in the Anderson County Detention Center as of Friday evening.
Copyright 2014 - Anderson Independent Mail, S.C.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
