Police dog bites boy 11 - Page 1

Police dog bites George Greenwood, 11, in Barkston Avenue, Chapelfields

10:08am Friday 23rd April 2010
A FATHER has claimed his 11-year-old son was left bruised, bleeding and terrified when he was bitten by a police dog only yards from his York home.

The German Shepherd was being used in a police chase on Barkston Avenue, Chapelfields, when it turned on George Greenwood.

The Westfield School pupil was playing outside the Costcutter shop with a group of friends when he was bitten. Police were pursuing a 14-year-old who was obstructing the road and officers released the dog to help in the chase.

George was not involved in the incident, but after the offender was caught, the youngster, who was standing near the dog handler, was bitten on his upper leg, leaving him bleeding and bruised.

A police spokesman apologised for the incident, which they claimed occurred because the youngster approached the dog handler.

George’s father Paul Greenwood, 42, said he was at home nearby on Bramham Avenue when he heard that his son had been bitten.

He said: “Suddenly there was a group of people outside my house screaming that George had been bitten by a dog. When I got there he was crying. The top of his leg was bleeding and bruised and he was scared and frightened.”

Mr Greenwood, who is now planning to lodge a formal complaint against the force, said the boy the police were chasing had been arrested and officers had him pressed up against the police van. He said they had put George in the back of a police car.

He said: “For this to happen is absolutely disgraceful. It’s appalling that a small child can be hurt by a police dog.”

The incident happened at about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

He said George had managed to go back to school yesterday and later went to get his wound checked by a doctor.

Witness Carla Smith said: “There was a big group of children in the street. They let a police dog out to try and catch someone they were chasing. Then I saw the dog bite a child.”

Another local resident, Tom Hartley, 24, said: “Suddenly it just bit this kid. There were about 15 children out in the street playing when it happened.”

A police spokesman said: “The incident happened following the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who had been obstructing traffic by placing road work signs and plastic barriers across Marston Crescent.

“The boy received only minor injuries, consisting of slight bruising and a graze to a leg.

“Immediately following the incident the officer’s first action was to make sure that the boy was safe and well.” He said the incident was unfortunate and said the officer apologised.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8116424.Police_dog_bites_boy__11/?ref=rss

Unfortunate is right.  Kinda foolish to let a dog go amongst all the kids isn't it? 

I'm glad it wasn't more serious.

I fault the k9 handler.  Although we weren't there to know the REAL story and the papers usually add their own little spin on what they were "told" by witnesses the k9 handler had to be a bafoon to allow a child to approach him with his dog while the dog just got done chasing down a bad guy.

I don't fault the boy. At 11 years old he didn't expect to get bit by a police dog.  Unless you're raised around these types of dogs that are "trained" to work kids have noooo idea what they are all about.  But if the child simply approached the handler without touching him the dog should have been under control.

<<  A police spokesman said: “The incident happened following the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who had been obstructing traffic by placing road work signs and plastic barriers across Marston Crescent.  >>
 

 

They sent a Police K9 after a kid playing a prank????  That's the most appalling part to me!

$100 bucks says it was some nervy "find and bark" dog...  (big eye roll)   What goons to turn the dog loose in that situation.

I thought that too? I know some kids at 14 can be as nasty as any one older but, to involve a police dog in his capture for something so minor is way beyond the call of duty IMO. and the 11 year old that was bitten could of been showing off with a group of his mates and it backfired, I also think his Dad is after compensation money too.  

This is caused by police departments insisting that their Police K9s are part of petting Zoo show, in order to promote their program. And general public then thinks that Police K9s are all Rin Tin Tins.
 Next it is caused by the parents not teaching little George to stay away from all police K9 or any strange dog in that matter.
This is caused by PC bull.
Off course the police K9 handler is at fault not to be aware of his surrounding area. But not knowing what actually happened it is hard to criticize the K9 handler since they are not little omnipotent and omnitious Gods.
I am more interested in why would police send a dog on a 14 year old kid moving traffic barriers.

Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com 

As a young boy I certainly knew that you did not approach a Police Dog, we were street wise enough to know that instinctively.

Hans I agree with you Police Dogs going into Schools and letting kids pet them, its Bullshit and as a serving Police dog handler I do not/refuse to take my Dog to these so called PR events.

No doubt the full story will come out, but there is no way my Dog would have been released under this situation/time. That Bobbies backside will be twitching, that I can guarantee.

Well I can't say whom is at blame here, however, I do know that my (very large) german bred boy is marked with "DO NOT TOUCH OR PET, WORKING DOG" AND I still have people come up to me, kids included and ask if they can pet my dog, or is he friendly or does he bite??  The answer is NO NO and Yes, he does bite.  Period.

I do not think you can expect a dog to distinguish when he is working whom not to bite if he is in pursuit.  He is doing his job for which they are trained to the hilt;  was the handler irresponsible, possibly.

But the general public needs to be better educated about these dogs whom are working;  they are not to be toyed with or touched while working, period, no question about it.  Therefore, incidence like this COULD POSSIBLY BE AVOIDED.  If not then the dog needs further training.  Nan

Ugh. That handler should be fired, or at least demoted down to scrubbing toilets at the department. What kind of yahoo sends a K9 on a kid, in a streetful of kids? Shameful.