Police dog on the job

GEORGE — The Grant County Sheriff’s police dog, K-9 Grizzly, made his first apprehension Sunday evening, May 22.

Deputies responded to 219 East Montmorency Boulevard in George for a report of a man breaking windows and making threats to set a house on fire. Upon arrival, they could hear a man, later identified as 27-year-old Lazaro Bautista Rodriguez, screaming and yelling inside the home.

Deputies tried to negotiate with Rodriguez and get him to come out of the house, but he instead barricaded himself inside a bedroom.

According to Sheriff Tom Jones, Rodriguez was told numerous times he was under arrest and needed to come out or K-9 Grizzly would be sent in. Rodriguez refused to come out and yelled, “Send your dog in.”

Deputies made their way up to the bedroom door and forced it open. K-9 Grizzly was sent in to search and found Rodriguez barricaded in the bathroom. Rodriguez was again given the chance to give up, but he again he refused.

Deputies forced open the bathroom door, Grizzly went in, and Rodriguez was subdued. Deputies then took Rodriguez into custody.

Deputies had been to the home earlier in the day for a similar complaint, but Rodriguez had fled before deputies could get there.

Rodriguez was taken to the Grant County Jail for investigation of:

Making threats (domestic violence), second degree malicious mischief (domestic violence), third degree malicious mischief (domestic violence) stemming from the call earlier in the day, resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer

“I want our community members to know how much we appreciate their support by helping us get K-9 Grizzly and K-9 Chicka,” Jones said. “We are still working to get one more K-9, and this call is a great example of how a K-9 can help safely subdue a suspect.”