Recorded on cellphone video
allowing a police dog to repeatedly bite a nonviolent man during an arrest,
three Missouri police officers are under investigation by the county
prosecutor.
At 7:18 a.m. on September 20,
Woodson Terrace police officers responded to a call concerning a trespasser at
a business who allegedly refused to leave. According to a press
release from the police department, three officers confronted the suspect
and determined that he was under the influence of narcotics.
In a bystander’s cellphone video, the
suspect was in police custody near two cops with his hands on the hood of a car
when the third officer released a K-9 to bite the man’s leg. The suspect
screamed in pain as the two other officers pulled him to the ground.
The third officer appeared to say
something to his colleagues shortly before they released their grips on the
suspect. As the cops backed away, the third officer allowed the K-9 to repeatedly
bite the terrified suspect again.
According to the police press
release, the suspect caused minor injuries to one of the officers. But in the
video, the suspect never appeared to attack the officers.
The suspect was later treated at
local hospital for the dog bites. The arresting officers allegedly found a
substance suspected of being methamphetamine on him after placing him in
handcuffs.
None of the officers were wearing body
cameras.
According to police
officials, the unidentified suspect has not yet been charged and was
released from police custody.
St. Louis County Prosecuting
Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement
that his office “is aware of this video, and we will make a thorough review of
the incident.” He declined to comment further about the case.
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