Wounded Calif. Police K-9 Loses Leg Following Shooting
By Jordan Parker
Source San Francisco Chronicle
A Vacaville police dog had its leg amputated after being shot Wednesday afternoon while assisting police as they arrested a suspect who was threatening to shoot people, police said.
Murph, who has been a Vacaville police dog for over three years, underwent successful surgery and is now recovering, according to police. He suffered the wound while helping to apprehend an armed suspect, who police identified as Darren Crail, 52, of Vacaville.
Prior to the shooting, Crail told Vacaville police dispatchers several times that he would harm himself. Officers attempted to contact Crail but he declined all services offered to him, police said.
At about 1:30 p.m., officers and Murph responded to the 300 block of Regency Circle after Crail, who said he was armed with a rifle, threatened to shoot citizens, police said. After authorities gave Crail several orders to exit the residence, he came outside with a rifle, police said. As Murph attempted to take Crail down after Crail refused to surrender, Crail fired the rifle, striking Murph, according to police. The dog was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital to undergo the amputation, police said.
Crail suffered minor injuries during the confrontation and was treated at a local hospital. He was arrested on suspicion of felony harm to a police dog, felony negligent discharge of a firearm, felony illegal possession of an assault weapon, criminal threats and resisting arrest.
"Please keep both Murph and his handlet in your thoughts during this time," police said in a statement.
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