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Suspect Bites Off Part of Police Dog’s Ear During Standoff
Wouter helped officers arrest a wanted felon despite losing part of his ear and is recovering at a specialty animal hospital, police said.
On Wednesday, Redondo Beach Police Department K-9 Wouter suffered an injury when an armed suspect bit off a portion of his ear during a SWAT standoff in Wilmington.
Officers deployed Wouter after a wanted felon barricaded himself inside a residence and refused to surrender, requiring the K-9's assistance during the apprehension effort.
Despite the injury, Wouter continued assisting officers until they safely took the man into custody, demonstrating resilience during the operation, according to the department.
Wouter received treatment at ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital and is recovering during a "much-needed break," the department said, while wearing a protective cone.
Under California Penal Code 600, harming a police dog is a criminal offense, though authorities have not confirmed whether the suspect will face additional charges for the bite.