Suspect stabs police dog while resisting arrest

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Two suspects were apprehended early Wednesday morning after they attempted to rob Broadway Pizza on Broad Avenue.

Just after 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, the owners of Broadway Pizza were contacted by a security company about an alarm at their business located at 2581 Broad Avenue.

Owner Dewanna Ishi raced to the pizza parlor, where she found two men walking from her store with her big screen TV.

"I just can't stand for somebody to take something from me," Ishi said.

Adrenaline took over, and shots were exchanged between Ishi and the would-be thieves.  A fight then ensued, with Ishi tackling one of the men.

"But he was a rasslin' and a tasslin'," Ishi said. "And he ended up, he drug me back into the car and I just held on."

When police arrived, an officer became involved in the scuffle. One of the suspects attempted to escape in a minivan and rammed a police cruiser while the other suspect fled on foot.

Officers quickly tracked him down, and according to a Memphis police spokesperson, when the man refused to stop running, they released Gunner, a police dog.

Gunner caught up with the man, tackling him and biting him.  During the scuffle, the man stuck the dog over and over with a four-inch blade until police managed to get him in handcuffs.

"I'm glad that they were arrested. You know, I hate that the police officer's dog was stabbed."

Police Lt. Buddy Bell said it will take Gunner six weeks to recover, and they were unsure if he would be able to work again.  Bell said police dogs are considered partners, and K-9 officers often consider them to be like family.

"Gunner's a tough dog," Bell said. "He's one of our best.

The other suspect was arrested at the scene.

Click here to send an email to Nick Kenney.