A Dayton police officer fatally shot a dog he said charged at him while the officer was investigating a theft at a residence Sunday afternoon, according to a police report.
The dog’s owner was later arrested.
The incident occurred while the officer was searching for a suspect who allegedly stole money from a woman who was attempting to purchase an iPhone 6 from the suspect. A person who fit the suspect’s description went to an apartment in the 1900 block of Larkswood Drive in Dayton.
The officer went to the apartment to search for the suspect, but he noticed an unchained dog that appeared to be a pit-bull and decided to return to his cruiser, the report said. As the officer walked away, he heard a dog running toward him and growling, and he shot the animal twice.
Just then a man later identified as Michael A. Melvin, 50, came walking from around a corner yelling, “you killed my (expletive) dog,” the report said. The officer reported he asked Melvin to calm down.
However, the man balled his fist up and began walking toward the officer and continued to yell, “you killed my (expletive) dog,” according to the report.
The man then went to the officers’ cruiser and punched it twice, the officer said. Other officers arrived at the scene and Melvin was taken into custody.
He was charged with aggravated menacing and obstructing official. business.
