Crime & Safety
Fleeing Suspects Punch Police Dog In Solon
Police said two men knocked over a police officer and punched a K-9 officer to avoid being taken into custody.
SOLON, OH — Two men ran from police, punched a K-9 officer and were then taken into custody in Solon on Tuesday morning. Police said the incident started after officers stopped a car for speeding.
At 3 a.m. on November 19, police spotted a car on Aurora Road that appeared to be speeding. Officers used radar to clock the car's speed and discovered the vehicle was driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone. Police stopped the car on Aurora Road.
There were three people inside the car: the driver, a front seat passenger and a back seat passenger.
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While talking with the driver, officers smelled marijuana wafting out of the car. The passengers were asked to identify themselves. One of the passengers had a warrant for their arrest, so police ordered everyone out of the car.
The passengers refused to get out. When police tried to open the back door of the car, a passenger pulled it shut. The passenger in the backseat then lunged forward and tried to push the car into drive.
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Police managed to get one of the car doors open and one of the passengers jumped out of the car and ran, rather than be taken into custody. The passenger knocked a police officer to the ground but was then wrestled to the ground, according to police.
Seeing the fracas, the other passenger leaped out of the car and ran to help his friend. The two passengers then ran into a nearby wooded area.
Police called in help from a K-9 unit from Independence. The dog tracked one of the passengers to a nearby business.
Officers ordered the passenger to surrender, but he refused. Police then released the K-9, who bit the passenger, police said. When police again ordered the man to surrender, he punched the dog but then surrendered.
The passenger was taken into custody and has been charged with assault of a police dog, obstructing official business and falsification, for lying about his social security number.
The other passenger eluded police. Officers have issued a warrant for his arrest.
The driver was cited for speeding and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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