RIVERSIDE: Off-duty FVPD K-9 injured helping RPD arrest “extremely combative” suspect

RIVERSIDE — A police service dog was injured when an off-duty Orange County K-9 handler and his K-9 partner jumped into action Monday morning and helped local officers apprehend a fleeing and violently resisting PRCS probationer. The pair was headed to a monthly training session in Riverside when the violent struggle and arrest happened.

Fountain Valley PD Officer Bill Hughes and his German shepherd partner, “Perro,” had just exited the 91 Freeway and were stopped at a red light at the Van Buren Boulevard exit when Hughes spotted a man running from a Riverside police officer in a nearby field.

Just as Hughes activated his lights and siren and headed over to help the officer a second Riverside PD officer ran into view, shortly behind the first officer, according to Fountain Valley PD Sergeant Kham Vang.

After driving as far as he could, Hughes and Perro jumped a fence and raced over to help the two officers, who had tackled the alleged suspect and were now struggling with him on the ground.

At one point officers had gotten one handcuff onto the “extremely combative” man, but his hands were still free and he was still resisting the officers, according to Vang. Despite “repeated commands” for the suspect to stop resisting, the man continued to fight.

“Due to the fact he was resisting, Perro was used to control the suspect,” Vang continued, “but the man kept resisting.”

During the struggle, the suspect, who was later identified as Pablo Gonzalez Jr. 28, a transient of the area, turned his aggression on Perro and he began to choke and punch the K-9 in the head and snout, according to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.

As the violent struggle continued, more officers eventually arrived and they were able to physically control and arrest Gonzalez, Railsback explained.

After his arrest, Gonzalez – who was determined to be on community supervision probation – was booked on ten felony charges, including battery on a peace officer resulting in injuries, assault with a deadly weapon, causing harm to a police service dog, violently resisting arrest, second-degree burglary, possession of forged bills, two counts of grand theft by access card, theft by forgery and receiving/possession of stolen property.

It was not immediately clear if all Gonzalez’ charges were related to Monday’s incident and arrest.

Vang later explained it is common for officers from other agencies to assist during “an emergency situation such as this.”

Riverside PD officials said they were grateful for the assistance, and Railsback later said, “We’re very thankful that (Hughes) happened to see what our officers were involved in and immediately tried to help us … in getting this violent suspect into custody.”

Perro, who suffered an injury near his eye, was checked out by an area veterinarian who determined the K-9 wasn’t seriously injured and officials later said Perro was “A-OK!” via the department’s Facebook page.

Fountain Valley PD FB post

 

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.