COLORADO SPINGS -- Two police officers were injured in an unusual incident involving a stolen vehicle and a police dog.
A Colorado Springs police dog and its handler were in pursuit of two people near Platte Avenue and Babcock Road who were suspected of motor vehicle theft, Colorado Springs police spokesman Lt. Howard Black said. The officer fell and hit his head, at which time the dog got loose.
A Fountain police officer, who was responding to the original vehicle theft call, crossed paths with the dog. The dog bit the officer in the left forearm. Fountain Police Sgt. Scott Gilbertsen said his arm was "torn up pretty bad" and that x-rays would have to be taken to determine whether the officer needs surgery. The Colorado Springs police officer will need stitches, Black said.
"We have had a difficult day dealing with serious issues," Black said. "Our officers and deputies and other departments constantly are faced with potential harm to themselves in carrying out their duties. This is a good example of those dangers."
The Fountain police officer initially found the stolen vehicle in the southern part of El Paso County. He requested assistance from Colorado Springs police, Colorado State Patrol and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, since the vehicle was out of his jurisdiction.
The agencies located the vehicle between Galley Road and Academy Boulevard. From there, police and deputies attempted to block the vehicle, which led to a short pursuit. Near Platte Avenue and Babcock Road, the two juveniles exited the vehicle and fled on foot. During the foot pursuit, the Colorado Springs police officer fell and the Fountain Police officer was bit.
Both juveniles are in custody. Black said the initial investigation has not tied the carjacking to any other crimes. Police will also conduct a full internal investigation to review the dog bite.
"This is a little bit of a unique of a situation," Black said, when asked what will happen to the dog. "There is an inherent risk when involved in these types of pursuits (involving a K9 Unit) for all officers."
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