| Updated: 7/11/2012 9:26 am |
Published: 7/10/2012 8:33 pm
|
A terrifying scene unfolded on July 4 as a child was bitten by a police dog.
Tulsa police said they were using the K9 to search for a murder suspect near Berry Park in north Tulsa, but a child ended up with stitches.
Cell phone video captured an overwhelmed father, demanding attention for his 7-year-old son.
A few seconds of terror left a lasting impression on Darrian Anderson, and his dad, Michael Bethel.
Without a medic near, family called 911, as police stood just feet away.
"Soon as I picked him up, the dog started snapping again," said Michael Bethel.
It took three adults to remove the dog, but not before it bit Darrian just inches below his groin.
"He says, 'what did I do wrong dad,'" said Michael.
All the commotion was happening at the park. Police were searching for a homicide suspect, but when police pulled up and unlocked the back door where an unleashed K9 was sitting, instead of heading towards the suspect he made a beeline towards the family.
"It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances," said TPD spokesman Officer Jason Willingham.
Willingham said he's not sure how long the dog has been on the force, but maintains it has a good history.
"Anytime you're dealing with an animal; animals are unpredictable,” said Willingham
Scott Tarpley, with Canine Unlimited of Tulsa, Inc. said all of the people at the park at the time of the attack may have confused the dog.
"Mistakes can be made by the dog not understanding exactly what you want,” said Tarpley.
"How can you make that type of mistake, with that type of dog and you're a trained officer?" asked Darrian's grandmother, Pearlie Bethel.
Pearlie said an unleashed dog puts lives at risk.
"They acted like 'oh, well.' They never approached us and said can we help,” said Pearlie.
Stitches have mended the wound. Michael estimates his son took at least eight bites to the leg.
"It was just snapping and growling, snapping and growling,” said Michael.
TPD said it's investigating how the dog was handled. The department said this is a very rare incident. The department will determine if procedures need to be changed moving forward.
