Marion police said officers were attempting to serve a warrant in a drug investigation at a home in the 500 block of Avondale Avenue at about 1:40 p.m.
Police said that upon officers' arrival, a woman was leaving the home, but when she saw officers, she ran back inside.
Police said officers followed the woman into the home and that once inside, Detective David Troutman was attacked by a large dog.
The dog, identified by police as a pit bull, bit Troutman on the arm and would not let go.
Three officers, including Troutman, fired gunshots into the dog before the dog released its grip.
Troutman was taken to Marion General Hospital and then flown to Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus for surgery. His condition is not known.
Police said a significant amount of heroin was found in the home, along with a firearm.
A total of five children, five adults and three pit bull dogs were present at the home during the incident.
Four people were arrested including three women and a 14-year-old juvenile.
Jennifer Tiller, 30, was arrested and charged with trafficking in heroin.
Phyllisa A. Cooper, 29, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice and drug abuse.
Karen J. Prise-Hughes, 39, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear.
According to Marion police, Troutman has been on the police force for about 14 years.
The search warrant was the result of several months of drug investigation.
Diana Keifer, the grandmother of the children where were in the home, said that her daughter would never do anything to harm her children.
Keifer said that the warrant was for trafficking heroin.
“She’s a good mom,” Keifer said. “She’s a wonderful parent. I don’t approve of what she did, but she’s a good mom.”
(NBC4i - Feb 2, 2012)
