A Mesa County Sheriff’s deputy on Monday night shot and killed a dog that attacked and bit him as the dog’s owner, a man suspected of driving under the influence, fled.
The deputy was responding to reports of a vehicle driving erratically in a supermarket parking lot about 9:20 p.m. in Grand Junction. When the deputy tried to contact the driver, he fled on foot.
“A medium-size dog immediately rushed a deputy in an aggressive and threatening manner, biting him in the upper thigh,” the sheriff’s office said. “The deputy was forced to discharge his duty weapon, neutralizing the immediate threat of danger to the deputy, which resulted in the death of the dog.”
The driver — who damaged his car by driving erratically, rendering it immobile — was arrested on charges related to drunk driving.
“The deputy is currently being treated at an area hospital for non life-threatening injuries sustained from the dog biting him,” the office said.
The suspect told deputies the dog was not up-to-date on its vaccinations. A local veterinarian facility is testing the dog for disease, the office said
The sheriff’s office did not immediately identify the suspect.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or
