A man is facing multiple charges in connection with a break-in at a New Hampshire church and a physical confrontation with law enforcement where officers were hurt and a K-9 was reportedly punched and choked.
Paul Lopez allegedly broke into Our Lady of the Cedars Church in Manchester around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the police log.
With word that there were several weapons in the church, police called for K-9 support. A state police trooper and his K-9 Ivy responded around three hours later, WMUR reports.
Ivy was eventually sent in as part of the effort to take Lopez into custody, but he allegedly attacked the dog.
"Lopez punched K-9 Ivy once. Lopez then picked Ivy off the ground and began strangling her. It appeared K9 Ivy was unable to breath(e) as her body was flailing and her mouth was closed," police wrote in the affidavit.
"I reached over K-9 Ivy with my rifle and performed a muzzle strike towards Lopez's forehead," police wrote in the affidavit.
After a second strike, police were able to get Lopez on the ground, but police said Lopez continued to struggle.
An officer suffered two broken bones and a partial tear in a tendon, police said.
New Hampshire State Police said K-9 Ivy would be OK.
