Officer bitten, dog shot and children seized in drug raids

Police say they seized two children, arrested three people and shot a dog while executing drug warrants at two houses Wednesday morning.

During one of the raids at a home in the 2300 block of 19th Street S.W., a pit bull-type dog lunged at a tactical officer and bit him on the left arm.

Officers tried to get the dog off and when they couldn't, shot it.

"The officer who had it latched onto his arm tried to pull away and the dog had locked its jaw," said Deputy Chief Ray Robitaille.

"This is what we call a dynamic forced entry. It was right at the initial stages so you had the entire rest of the house that had to be cleared, so time was of the essence and lethal force was the only option available to immediately have that dog release."  

Robitaille said most dogs are typically passive during police raids.

"Even breeds that would be traditionally viewed as aggressive," he said.

"This is highly unusual that a dog would attack a police officer, let alone a tac-team member doing a dynamic entry."

Both homes were under surveillance prior to the warrants being executed and there was no indication dogs were inside, said Robitaille.

The tactical team member was taken to hospital and treated for serious bite wounds, requiring more than a dozen stitches.

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Two people inside the home were arrested and charges are pending. 

A second warrant was executed soon after at a home in the 200 block of Coral Springs Circle N.E., where a woman was arrested and her two children were seized. 

Police said the woman was later released without charge and the children returned to her custody.

A man who was the target of the warrant and wasn't home at the time has since turned himself into police.

Cocaine, marijuana and cash were found in the homes and officers are still determining the exact amounts.

Police said the three-week investigation into a dial-a-dope ring began following a tip from the public.