Man accused of stealing $2,000 bike now charged with shooting Durham police dog
A man accused of shooting a Durham police dog during a chase Tuesday was arrested and charged with assault on a law enforcement animal and other crimes.
The dog, Daro, is “recovering well” after surgery, Durham Police Department spokesperson Kammie Michael said by email Wednesday afternoon. She did not know if or when the dog might return to duty.
Durham police arrested Trey Deshawn Christie, 21, Tuesday evening and charged him with assault on a law enforcement animal inflicting serious injury; carrying a concealed weapon; resisting, delaying and obstructing a government official; discharging a firearm within the city limits; breaking and entering; larceny after breaking and entering; felony conspiracy to commit breaking and entering and two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, according Michael’s email.
Michael said the most recent breaking and entering and larceny charges stem from a Monday break-in during which he is accused of stealing a bicycle worth more than $2,000.
How the dog got shot
Officers were in the Morehead Avenue area looking for a suspect in downtown larcenies, Capt. Brian Reitz said during a news conference Tuesday.
When police found Christie, they tried to detain and question him. They discovered he had a gun.
When they tried to take his gun, he ran toward some trees.
The K9 was tracking the suspect when police say the man shot the dog.
The dog was taken to an emergency veterinarian and underwent surgery.
Police did not answer questions from The News & Observer asking how many times and where the dog was shot, and how serious his injuries were.
Around 5 p.m., the Police Department said it had caught the suspect and that the dog was doing well, WRAL reported.
Christie is being held in the Durham County Jail without bail on a federal detainer.
What Durham’s police dogs do
The Police Department has nine police dogs with its Uniform Patrol Bureau and two that are assigned to the Special Operations Division, according to the department’s website.
The police canines are assigned to work with handlers and usually assist in tracking suspects, finding missing people, searching buildings and finding guns and drugs.
This story was originally published March 30, 2021 at 3:41 PM.