Police Dog Shot, Killed In Hemet As Suspect Barricades Himself
HEMET (CBSLA.com) — A police dog has been fatally shot in the Inland Empire area of Hemet, leading to a barricade situation with the suspect.
The dog, a Shepherd mix named Sultan, was with a unit of the Riverside County Sheriff's department near San Jacinto and Clark Dr. at the time of the shooting.
The suspect then barricaded himself in a home in the area, where a large police presence has developed.
Dozens of officers and deputies gathered outside the animal hospital, where the cruiser Sultan rode in was parked.
San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz said that Sultan was the department's top dog, paraded around City Council when he first began service in 2013.
"What an amazing, amazing dog," Ruis said. "He's made several arrests for us. He was the pride and joy of our station. It's awful, that's one of our officers that's been killed, so it's not good."
SWAT units were stationed in the area, and were using night-vision goggles as the standoff with the accused shooter continued.
Hemet resident Megan Wetherbee, who lives near the spot of the standoff, says she was able to hear officers communicate with the suspect.
"It's been pretty scary," Wetherbee said. "I got home and I had to come down the back way, and there's a cop at the end of the block, and he said 'just stay inside and lock your doors'."
Officers say it is the first time a working police dog has been killed in the county.
Police had not released the identity of the suspect as of 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
