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February 7, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police Sergeant Michael Pierce sustained lacerations to his left arm and wrist from a bite by a police canine during a search for a suspect on February 4. At 7:49 p.m. La Mesa Police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 8200 block of Orchard Avenue, where a suspect reportedly had threatened his brother with a hammer. An El Cajon Police K-9 responded to assist in searching for the suspect.
Officers decided to use the police K-9 to search a crawlspace under the house, but when the dog was released, it turned away from the handler and ran towards three La Mesa Police officers standing about 15 feet away from the K-9 handler. Sergeant Michael Pierce recognized that the dog was about to bite one of his officers, so he jumped in front of the officers, stuck out his arm and was bitten by the K-9.
The K-9 handler immediately responded and took control of his dog. Sergeant Pierce sustained lacerations to his left arm and wrist. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for the injuries. Sergeant Pierce is expected to make a full recovery. He has been an officer with the La Mesa Police Department for 18 years and previously served in the military as a K-9 handler for 11 years.
The suspect in the original case has not been located and the investigation is continuing. No one else was injured.
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