VIRGINIA -- Roanoke police shot and killed a pit bull Tuesday that bit one officer and charged at others, officials said.
Two officers fired shots at the 62-pound male pit bull when it attacked them, police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said in a news release. The dog had been under a quarantine notice following a May 16 dog bite call, she said.
Animal Control Officer D.R. Gibson responded to the 2400 block of Shenandoah Avenue Northwest about 11:35 a.m. after someone called 911 to report the aggressive pit bull, Johnson said. Gibson arrived and saw a dog matching the description given to 911 operators.
As Gibson left his vehicle, the tan pit bull charged at him, biting him on the foot, Johnson said. The officer was not seriously injured.
The dog ran into the neighborhood and Gibson called for backup, Johnson said. Just after noon, Gibson and three patrol officers found the animal again and approached it with a catch pole to contain it.
The dog charged at Officer D.L. Spradling, who fired his department-issued handgun and struck the animal, Johnson said. As Spradling fell backward in the commotion, Officer C.T. Fike "took a cover position by Spradling" and fired his gun as well, striking the dog a second time.
The pit bull was found dead nearby and taken to officials with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to be tested for rabies, Johnson said.
Johnson said police continue to investigate.
(Roanoke Times - May 23, 2012)
