CSPD arrest: K9 Riggs bites parolee who then bites officer

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), on Friday, Sept. 27, Colorado State Parole located a parolee wanted on two felony warrants, near Astrozon Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive. After a struggle in which the suspect wrestled with K9 Riggs and bit an officer, he was arrested with help from multiple law enforcement entities.

CSPD reported that on Friday, Sept. 27, at 5:30 p.m., Colorado State Parole’s Fugitive Task Force learned that parolee Christopher Wesson, allegedly wanted on two felony warrants, was in the 4200 block of Morley Drive. With the assistance of the Metro Motor Vehicle Theft Unit detectives, parole officers watched the home.

According to CSPD, due to his history with weapons and escape attempts, officers requested assistance from CSPD’s Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU), an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) officer, and the K9 Unit.

CSPD said that around 6:15 p.m., parole officers approached the residence, and the UAS officer observed Wesson attempting to escape through a small bathroom window. He was unable to exit and returned inside. The people who lived in the home tried to call Wesson out of the house, but he refused. They then gave CSPD officers and the K9 unit permission to search the house.

Tactical Enforcement Unit officers initially cleared most of the house, narrowing Wesson’s location to a few rooms filled with clutter, which created multiple hiding places and hazards for the officers. They called for Wesson to surrender, but according to CSPD, he remained hidden. K9 Officer Lofgren and his K9, Riggs, entered the residence, and Lofgren warned Wesson several times that a police dog would be released if he did not surrender, and that K9 Riggs would “find him and bite him”.

CSPD reported that after giving Wesson several minutes to comply, K9 Riggs was released to search the rooms. The dog found Wesson hiding under a pile of clothes between a bed and a wall. Riggs bit Wesson on the shoulder, and Wesson began wrestling with the dog. Tactical officers moved in to assist, but Wesson allegedly resisted and bit one of the officers on the hand, taking out a small chunk of skin.

Wesson received medical attention from AMR personnel for minor injuries caused by K9 Riggs and was taken to the hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Criminal Justice Center on his warrants and placed on hold for assaulting a peace officer. Additional charges are pending. The injured officer was treated for minor hand injuries.

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