The Riverside County (California) Sheriff’s Office is investigating the actions of a K-9 deputy who was recorded shoving his dog to the street on Thursday, Nov. 30, after it appeared to bite him.
Some people on social media immediately criticized Deputy Shane Day, but a person whose company imports police dogs and trains their handlers said Day acted appropriately, the Press-Enterprise reports.
The Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened around 12:40 p.m. in Moreno Valley. The video, posted on Instagram, shows a deputy standing outside his patrol car holding a suspect in an unspecified crime at gunpoint.
As the suspect walks backward toward the other deputy with his hands behind his head, Day moves forward with the K-9. The dog appears excited, rises and tries to bite Day’s right hand.
Day forces the dog to the pavement, briefly wrestles with it and then leads the dog back to the patrol car. Its tail is wagging.
Michael Reaver is president and co-owner of Adlerhorst International in Jurupa Valley, which says it has provided K9s and training to more than 500 law enforcement agencies since 1976.
Reaver, who viewed the video, said he believes “The way Shane handled it was quick and to the point. It was a correction,” Reaver said. “It didn’t exceed the limit for force. … A dog wants a strong leader. (The dog) knew he messed up.”
