Long Beach Police Arrest Suspect For Alleged Sexual Assault While Shooting His Pit Bull
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Long Beach Police said they shot and wounded a man's pit bull after the sexual assault suspect let the dog loose and it approached them.
The 38-year-old suspect -- whose name was withheld -- was taken into custody, police said.
Authorities said officers were dispatched to the San Gabriel riverbed, near PCH, after receiving report of a possible sexual assault against a 40-year-old Seal Beach woman on Friday just after 10:30 p.m.
A man who reported the alleged assault led police to where the suspect was last seen, authorities said.
Two officer began chasing a possible suspect while a third stayed with the man who reported the alleged attack.
The man who reported the incident, recognized the actual suspect and pointed him out to the officer who remained behind.
According to police, the suspect allegedly said something to the dog and then released the large pit bull.
The dog approached the officer. The officer believing he and the man who reported the assault were in danger, shot the animal, which then retreated, police said.
The suspect was arrested and booked for a sexual offense. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Police said the dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment.
The incident remains under investigation, police said.
