Vasquez, said Sr. Officer Smith, was “Hitting and kicking Rex,” who finally bit the suspect.Rex, noted Sr. Officer Smith, was not injured.Officers do not just enter a residence with the dog without notice to a suspect, noted SPPD Lt. Carlos Juarez.“They gave the announcement, gave the guy every opportunity,” to surrender and although Vasquez “started to come out” he then hit Rex.“Then,” Lt. Juarez added, “the dog bit him on the ankle...”Vasquez received minor injuries as the result of the bite and was transported to Santa Paula Hospital where he was treated and released to the custody of officers.Vasquez was charged with carjacking, resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer and battery on a police K-9.“He was lodged at Ventura County Jail pending a court appearance,” and Sr. Officer Smith said bail was set at $100,000.
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Richard Adam Vasquez, 24, of Santa Paula (white shirt), is treated for injuries after a dog bite. SPPD K-9 Rex bit Vasquez on the ankle during his arrest. Vasquez was charged with carjacking, resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer and battery on a police K-9. |
SPPD: Carjacking suspect batters K-9 Rex, is slightly injured during arrest
September 24, 2008
Santa Paula Police Department
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesAn early Thursday morning carjacking led to a later in house pursuit and slight injuries to the suspect, who was cornered and bitten by a Santa Paula Police K-9 in the attic of his East Main Street home.The incident started with the September 18 report of a carjacking at about 3 a.m. in the 200 block of South 12th Street, according to SPPD Senior Officer Ryan Smith.Upon arrival officers “were able to positively identify the suspect as Richard Adam Vasquez,” 24, of Santa Paula, who is on “active probation for narcotics related violations.”At approximately 12:19 p.m., officers located the victim’s vacant vehicle parked in the 1300 block of East Harvard Boulevard.Shortly thereafter, said Sr. Officer Smith, a probation search was conducted at Vasquez’s residence located in the 1200 block of East Main Street.“As officers approached the residence,” Vasquez was spied looking out of a second-story window...and then he ran.Sr. Officer Smith said that officers “Watching the rear of the residence noticed him climbing out of a separate second-story window,” and when confronted Vasquez fled back into the residence.Officers ordered Vasquez to surrender and when he failed to comply officers entered the residence including K-9 Rex, who found Vasquez hiding under the insulation in the residence’s attic.“Vasquez failed to comply with officers’ commands to surrender and subsequently battered” K-9 Rex, who nevertheless apprehended Vasquez enabling officers, noted Sr. Officer Smith, to make an arrest.
