K-9 incident/Photo courtesy of Complex
The FBI is investigating the Missouri police officers who allowed a police dog to attack a suspect they say was refusing to follow orders.
The incident happened in the town of Woodson Terrace.
On Sept. 20, a Black man was stopped by the police for an alleged infraction. As police officers leaned him over the car, another officer stood to the side with a police dog.
The officer let go of the canine and it began to attack the man by biting his ankle.
As the suspect cried for help, police only pushed him to the ground while allowing the dog to continue the attack.
At one point, officers pulled the dog off of the man but then released it again and it continued its attack.
Woodson Terrace has claimed that they received a call reporting a break-in. When they arrived, the man claimed that he was a “sovereign citizen.” Sovereign citizens believe that they are not subject to governmental laws. Police said they warned the man that the dog would be released if he did not comply.
They also claimed that the man was on drugs and resisted arrest. However, the video does not support that claim.
Woodson Terrace Police Chief Randy Halstead said that the department plans to fully cooperate with the FBI’s investigation of the events.
There are no specifics as to what the FBI is investigating, however, the agency typically deals with “color of law” cases. Color of law violations are actions that willfully deprive or conspire to deprive a person of a right protected by the Constitution or U.S. law.
The alleged suspect was curiously never charged and released from custody.
The St. Louis County Prosecutor has also opened its own investigation into the arrest but would not offer details about its focus.
Protesters have called for the termination and prosecution of all officers involved.