Trial Against Man Accused of Killing Pittsburgh Police Dog Begins

Testimony begins in the trial against John Rush, 22, of Stowe, the man accused of killing a Pittsburgh Police dog in January 2014.

Jury selection in the trial occurred on Monday and a jury of eight women and four men began hearing testimony on Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos is overseeing the trial. Police are accusing Rush of attacking and stabbing the Pittsburgh Police K-9 named Rocco and other police officers when they attempted to arrest him on Jan. 28, the Post-Gazette reports.

Rush is being charged with abusing a police animal, disarming a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault, among numerous other charges, the newspaper said. In total he is facing 12 charges. Rush has been held without bond in the Allegheny County Jail since Jan. 29.

The trial is expected to last through the end of this week, according to TribLive.com.

To read more about the testimony heard, visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette or TribLive.com.