A Clayton police officer suffered minor injuries early Monday when Smithfield's police dog bit him after a high-speed chase.
Diesel, a German shepherd, mistook the Clayton officer for a robbery suspect and bit him on the elbow. Diesel's handler had given the dog a command to go to the suspect's SUV, where the Clayton officer was doing a search.
The incident happened about 4 a.m. Monday as officers from Clayton and Smithfield were pursuing suspects in an armed robbery. In a news release, Smithfield police said three men had held up the Handy Mart convenience store on U.S. 70 in Wilson's Mills.
A dark-colored Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle was seen leaving the convenience store, headed toward Smithfield. Smithfield officers spotted the SUV near Kmart, and the vehicle sped off toward Clayton, Smithfield police Lt. Keith Powell said.
As the SUV reached speeds up to 85 mph, Smithfield police asked Clayton officers to place stop sticks on Little Creek Church Road to puncture the vehicle's tires, Powell said. The three men fled from the SUV on foot, and a Clayton officer was searching the vehicle when Smithfield's canine unit arrived.
Powell said Jordan Cutchins, the canine officer, released Diesel to follow the suspects. But Cutchins wasn't aware that the Clayton officer was at the vehicle, and the suspects had fled into the woods.
Police said the Clayton officer, whose name hasn't been released, was treated briefly at Johnston Medical Center in Clayton and released. He was expected to be back on the job soon.
Diesel, who joined the department earlier this year, is getting more training. "We have an after-action plan in place, and we're following it to take care of the issues," Powell said.
After the bite, Diesel pursued the suspects through the woods and back onto the road, where he lost the scent, police said. Officers say they recovered guns and stolen property from the SUV, which was reported stolen from Shaw University in Raleigh.
Police could not give detailed descriptions of the suspects. Police ask anyone with information to call the Smithfield police tip line at 989-8835 or the Wilson's Mills Police Department at 938-3885.
