VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- A 13-year-old boy is recovering from injuries to his legs after a K-9 officer attacked him Sunday night.
Virginia Beach police said they were on Foxhound Lane where a homeowner said someone had broken into a house. The homeowner confronted the person who ran.
Officers said they found someone matching the description the homeowner gave them a street over on Claiborne Place.
Police said he ran, despite an order by the police K-9 team to stop. Police released a K-9 officer.
A neighbor on Claiborne Place told 13News Now he yelled to officers, telling them they had the wrong person. That person was, in fact, a 13-year-old who happened to walk out of a house with his 9-year-old brother while police were investigating.
The K-9 caught the boy, biting him, leaving punctures and gashes on his legs.
The boy has not been back to school since the attack. While his brother was not hurt physically, the incident left him distraught.
The boys' parents told 13News Now they did not wish to talk at this time. They contacted an attorney, and are looking into legal recourse.
As part of a news release, the Virginia Beach Police Department stated:
It must be noted that every VBPD use of force, to include K-9 deployments, requires an internal report. Each use of force is thoroughly investigated by the officers' chain of command, as well as our Internal Affairs Division. The investigation examines the reason force was used, whether the type of force used was the most appropriate, as well as adherence to training and policies which reflect legal standards for use of force. This incident is currently under internal review, therefore no additional details can be provided at this time.
The release said police still have not identified the actual person responsible for the break-in on Foxhound Lane.
