KINGMAN - A pit bull was shot and killed after clamping onto a detective's hand as Kingman Police served a search warrant.
The warrant was executed at a home in the 400 block of Kier Street around 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Kingman Police Capt. Rusty Cooper said the detective entered a room occupied by the home's residents and the dog. Cooper said that as soon as the door was opened, the pit bull rushed toward the detective and clamped his jaw around the detective's hand.
Cooper said the detective was unable to shake the dog loose and was forced to fire a single shot into its chest. The dog was not killed by the shot and had to be held back by other officers using a gun that fired pepper spray balls. The dog was then shot again and killed.
The warrant was the result of an investigation by the KPD FLEX squad into possible drug dealing. The home's residents, David A. Sprowson Jr., 28, and his girlfriend, Kristi Lyn Shuler, 37, were arrested on several felony drug charges, including dangerous drugs for sale, after methamphetamine and marijuana were found in the home.
Also in the home at the time the warrant was served was Shuler's 11-year-old son, her 13-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old friend of the girl's. Cooper said police were aware that the children and an aggressive dog were inside the residence when the warrant was served and that police used extra caution because of that.
Additional charges of child abuse are possible pending a review by the Mohave County Attorney's Office.
The detective received stitches at a local hospital, and the dog is being tested for rabies.
(Kingman Daily - July 1, 2011)
