Illinois: Rashaan Strawder, 33, used his pit bull to rob people. While being arrested, police officer bitten by dog

ILLINOIS -- A Kane County sheriff's deputy was bitten by a pit bull as he was struggling with the dog's owner at a home in Aurora Township, police said Friday.

The attack occurred when two sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a robbery at a home on the 300 block of South Calhoun Street, according to a sheriff's office news release.

A 30-year old man from Aurora was invited to the house to meet a woman, the release says, and at the residence went into a room with a different woman.

At some point, police said, Rashaan Strawder, 33, who lives at the home, entered the room with the pit bull and "told the victim to take off his clothes and empty out his pockets," the release says.

Fearing for his safety, the man gave Strawder his car keys and ran from the home. The release says Strawder then released the pit bull, but the victim was able to jump a few fences and elude the dog.

As deputies questioned Strawder, he "became aggressive toward deputies and refused to turn over the vehicle keys," the release says.

A struggle ensued, and deputies attempted to fire a Taser at Strawder. It failed, and during the scuffle, which had moved outside, the pit bull attacked a deputy, biting his foot through his boot. 

The deputy then fired his handgun at the pit bull but missed. He then fired his Taser at the dog, which ran into the house. A second Taser subdued Strawder, who was then taken into custody, police said.

The deputy was treated for the dog bite and released from a hospital. A second deputy was also injured in the struggle but did not require medical attention.

Strawder was taken to the Kane County jail. Charges filed against him include aggravated battery to and resisting an officer, battery, robbery, theft and failure to leash a dangerous animal.

A second person at the scene, Kelly Dunn, 26 of North Aurora, was taken into custody on an unrelated outstanding warrant.

The call also was answered by Aurora and Montgomery police, plus Kane County Animal Control.

(Daily Herald - Dec 30, 2016)