FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A police dog is recovering after being punched by a burglary suspect armed with brass knuckles.
One witness told Channel 2's Carl Willis the two men who were breaking into his car dropped a gun as they ran away, but police say at least one of them was still armed.
A police dog was punched with spiked brass knuckles.
The K-9, named "Rock," was just doing his job when duty called early Monday as the two car burglary suspects were caught in the act and chased into the woods by their victim.
"I thought how lucky I was that it turned out the way it did because it wasn't (a) very smart move of me running after someone. I had no idea they were armed," the witness said.
The victim, who doesn't want to be identified, tells Willis he saw the suspects drop a handgun while trying to get away.
A Sandy Springs K-9 unit quickly caught up the suspects, identified as 25-year-old Johnathan Wimbs and 24-year-old Aron Davis.
"We're happy for the response but we're also a little disturbed," the witness said.
Although the suspects lost a gun, police say one of the alleged gang members was still armed with brass knuckles and used them to punch the 10-year-old police dog repeatedly, inflicting damage, but not enough to get away.
"You started by trying to take my petty belongings, and now you assaulted an officer of the law," the witness said.
Police say Wimbs was charged with causing injury to a police dog.
Both the suspects were hit with charges for being affiliated with a gang breaking in to cars and theft by receiving.
Officer Michael Dewald, who has been with "Rock" since 2009, says his partner did exactly what he was trained to do.
"Surprised at the outcome, glad the way it turned out for everybody," Dewald said. "You never know how a situation can be."
Police told Willis although "Rock" needed stitches he was right back on the job in no time.
Cox Media Group
