PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Port St. Luce Police Department announced Thursday that a valuable member of its team is back after being injured last week while apprehending a fleeing suspect.
K-9 Dingo was kicked multiple times by the suspect, Christopher James Smith, 26.
The incident occurred in the early morning of Oct. 2 in the 400 block of SW McClellan St.
Officers were dispatched to the scene about a loud noise complaint and found Smith, who they say had a felony arrest warrant revoking pre-trial release for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
According to police, Smith fled towards a nearby house. A K-9 officer gave multiple warnings before deploying Dingo.
Dingo grabbed a hold of the suspect's right foot as he began to swing his legs over the fence.
Dingo was kicked multiple times as the suspect tried to free himself. The K-9 was taken to the Veterinary Medical Center of St. Lucie County. Police said X-rays were negative for any fractures and Dingo was given medicine for a soft tissue injury.
Smith was charged with battery on a police K-9, resisting an officer with violence and resisting an officer without violence.
He remains locked up, police said.