Police: Half-Naked Long Beach Man Punched Dog In Dramatic Chase
LONG BEACH (CBS) —A Long Beach man is facing serious charges after he allegedly attacked a police dog. The entire confrontation was caught on tape.
Scott Balbirnie allegedly led Westminster police on a pursuit early Thursday morning. After failing to obey orders and exit his vehicle, officers say they used a canine to apprehend Balbirnie. According to police, he punched the German Shepherd in the face before they pulled him out.
A Taser was deployed and when Balbirnie was removed from the vehicle, it was discovered that he was nude from the waist down. He was treated at a hospital for dog bites and booked at the Orange County Jail on charges of DUI, controlled substance violations and assault on a police dog.
"What's taking place with my son, it's part of the craziness of drug addiction," said Bruce Balbirnie from his Long Beach home, in an exclusive interview with CBS2's Serene Branson. The retired fire captain opened up to the reporter about his son's drug addiction to meth and crack cocaine and the help he has been getting from Al-Anon. Ironically, the father says, his son loves dogs.
The police dog received a bump on the head but is back on the job tonight.
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