Police K-9 bites handcuffed man in California

ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. — A California man bitten by a police K-9 while in custody wants an apology.

Kenneth Schultz, 30, was taken into custody during a domestic disturbance call. As he was being put into a patrol car, an officer opened the door the German Shepherd emerged and bit the suspect on the buttocks and legs, KTVU reported.

“It was shocking,” Schultz said. “It didn’t bite lightly. It jumped and latched on.”

The dog attacked Schultz for about 10 seconds. He was taken to a hospital and treated for cuts.

“I just think it was a rookie guy who just got on the team... and didn’t have a good person to lead him,” Schultz said.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said the officer was a trainee who accidentally opened the wrong door. The rear of the patrol car is configured with separate spaces for the K-9 and a suspect. Schultz should have been placed on the other side of the vehicle, officials said.

No charges were filed against the trainee or other police officers at the scene.

“This was clearly an accident,” Sgt. Tya Modeste, sheriff’s spokeswoman, said. “We are moving to make sure both doors will have labeling on it.”

This is not the first time a K-9 has accidentally bitten a suspect.

In 2018, a K-9 officer attacked a suspect who was in handcuffs after the dog’s handler freed it from the patrol car, KTVU reported.

Schultz was cited for being under the influence of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, KTVU reported. He is retaining a lawyer and might sue the department, according to KTVU.

“Everything was very calm,” Schultz said. “It was, ‘yes sir, no sir,' -- just making sure I was safe and at the end of it, I wasn’t safe.”

Cox Media Group