Innocent Bystander Attacked by Police K9 In Fresno

by Joshua Scott Hotchkin
Cop Block
May. 21, 2015

The Fresno Police Department has a tough time staying out of the news these days. Today, they have once again made headlines after one of their K9 units attacked an innocent bystander. ABC30 Action News reports:

A police chase ended at an East Central Fresno intersection Tuesday night. Curious people came out of their homes to watch as police were closing in on the suspect. That’s when a police K-9 got loose. And instead of running for the suspect the dog headed straight for the bystanders.

Cell phone video shows moments after a police canine mauled an innocent bystander. Look closely in the corner and you can see the dog being taken away. Just one day later the victim, 38-year-old Hanley Sell can’t hold back the tears. He’s bloodied, bruised and in extreme pain.

“I don’t know what to do I can’t feed myself,” said Sell. He has gashes on both arms. “The dog basically pulled off the top of my bicep right here because the officer was yanking it by the collar,” said Sell. He was with several people watching as a high speed chase ended at Sierra Vista and Belmont. Instead of running toward the suspect the canine ran straight for him and so Sell says he ran away.

Jerry Dyer, who is the Fresno PD chief officer, admits that the incident was not the fault of the innocent bystander who was viciously attacked. Well, dang, how kind of him to say that! In the meantime, taxpayers will pick up the medical expenses and most likely the tab on a future lawsuit. Dyer says they are investigating how this could have happened. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that his department is full of clumsy criminals. Nope. Nothing at all.