Florida: Ryan James Packer arrested for burning police K-9 with cigarette
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the arrest of a 19-year-old transient for multiple crime including burning a K-9 police dog on the nose with a lit cigarette.
Image/Pinellas County Sheriffs Office
Ryan James Packer was arrested after breaking into a home in Dunedin and refusing to come out after police arrived.
According to sheriff officials, deputies responded to a burglary in progress call at a Dunedin home on Feb. 28 after it was reported that a male suspect was seen breaking in through a window. Deputies arrived on scene and ordered the suspect to come outside. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to order the suspect out of the home, deputies and the K-9 unit entered the home through the front door with the assistance of the homeowner.
Image/Pinellas County Sheriffs Office
Once inside the residence, the suspect was located in the bathroom but continued to challenge the deputies. The K-9 Deputy again ordered the suspect out of the bathroom to which he refused. As deputies approached the bathroom, Deputy Harry Harris was struck by the suspect and at that time K-9 Deputy Michael Kilian released K-9 Axel. Axel was able to get a firm grip on the suspect, who had a lit cigarette in his right hand and used it to burn Axel twice in the nose in an attempt to free himself.
Deputies were able to gain custody Packer. He was charged with Battery Against A Police Dog, Battery on Law Enforcement Officer, Trespass Property Other Than Structure Or Conveyance and Resisting An Officer With Violence.
