CALIFORNIA -- A Long Beach police officer shot a pit bull after he was attacked by the animal, authorities said Tuesday.
Officers responded to a call about a pit bull running loose in the 1900 block of Pine Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Monday, when they were confronted by the dog, which was not on a leash and had no apparent owner in the area, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Police said the animal bit the officer's pant leg. "Fearing the dog would attack again and with several residents nearby," the department said in a statement, "the officer discharged his weapon, striking the dog."
The officer's pants were torn, but he was not injured. Detectives later learned that the pit bull had attacked another resident last week, police said.
Animal control officers took the wounded animal from the scene. Police Department spokesman Nancy Pratt said Tuesday that she did not know where the dog was taken.
(LA Times Blog - Oct 11, 2011)
