An Irrigon man is in jail and his dog is locked up at Pet Rescue after an officer was bitten by the dog while the suspect was allegedly resisting arrest.
The incident began just after 11 p.m. Tuesday night when a Hermiston Police Department officer saw Travis Reed, 35, of Irrigon, walking his dog in the 1700 block of North First Street.
According to Lt. Randy Studebaker of the HPD, Reed allegedly ran away from the officer through traffic. Witnesses told the officer that Reed had been hiding in the bushes outside of a local business, and that he’d been jumping out of the bushes and scaring customers. Studebaker said it was later learned that Reed had a felony warrant for his arrest for violating his probation.
According to Studebaker, Reed was located a short distance away, but he refused to stop for the officer. Instead, said Studebaker, Reed reportedly yelled a profanity and told the officer there was no legal reason to detain him.
A backup officer arrived and when they tried to handcuff Reed, a brief struggle ensued. During that struggle Reed’s dog, an adult pit bull, attacked one of the officers, biting him in the shin near the top of his boot.
“The officer showed tremendous restraint in that although he was legally justified in shooting the animal, he was able to use his TASER and stop the dog’s attack,” said Studebaker.
Paramedics were called to the scene as a precaution, but Reed had no injuries and the officer suffered only a superficial dog bite.
Reed was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. In addition to the warrant, he’s held on new charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Reed’s dog was taken to Pet Rescue for safekeeping during Reed’s incarceration.
Thankful that the officer was merciful to the dog. It was doing it’s job, and can’t help it if it’s owner is misbehaving. Hope both of their lives take a turn for the better.
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