Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HURRICANE, Washington County — A Hurricane police K-9 stabbed in the neck Monday night remained in critical condition in Las Vegas on Tuesday as he awaited surgery, but was "stable," Hurricane police announced.
Riko, a 5½-year-old Belgian malinois/German shepherd mix was injured Monday night as police were attempting to take a home invasion suspect into custody.
The intruder, Jose Palacios Pascacio, 46, of Hurricane, who allegedly stabbed Riko in the neck, was shot and killed by police.
After Riko was injured, he was rushed by ambulance to a veterinarian clinic in St. George, said Hurricane police officer Dan Raddatz. When it was determined that the type of surgery that Riko needed could not be performed there, Raddatz said the decision was made to transfer him to a clinic in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, a medical helicopter was not available at that time, so an ambulance to was used to transport Riko and his handler to Las Vegas, he said.
By Tuesday morning the hashtag #prayingforRiko was being shared on social media.
"Please send your positive thoughts and prayers to officer Riko, he was transported to the Las Vegas Animal Emergency last night and is in critical condition. We are praying for his handler, the Hurricane Police Department, and everyone involved in last night's incident," the Hurricane Animal Shelter posted on Facebook.
Monday's incident began at 7:22 p.m. when Hurricane police were called to the area of the city cemetery on a report of a man who said he was being threatened. When officers arrived and found the man, he began yelling at them in Spanish and "drove his car at the officers," according to a statement from police.
Officers pursued the man but ended their chase after less than a minute due to safety concerns. The man continued driving "very slowly and erratically" near 700 West and made "numerous abrupt U-turns" and eventually crashed into another vehicle, police stated. But when officers caught up to the man's car, "the suspect was no longer in the vehicle when officers approached it," the statement says.
Shortly after the crash, officers were called to a residence near 2460 West and 250 North after the homeowner said a man in his mid-40s whom they did not know had walked into their home. How Pascacio got into the home was still being investigated Tuesday.
"After officers entered the home it was reported that shots had been fired and the suspect was fatally shot and a police K-9 was critically injured," Hurricane police stated.
No other details were provided Monday about where in the house Pascacio was found or the moments leading up to Riko being stabbed and officers firing at Pascacio.
None of the four residents of the home was injured, police said.
A Hurricane police officer and a Washington County Sheriff's deputy have been placed on standard paid administrative while the officer-involved shooting is investigated by the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force.
"We send our condolences to the family of the deceased. And our hearts and prayers are currently with our K-9 that was injured and his partner and family as we all are hoping for the best possible outcome," Hurricane police said in a prepared statement.
Contributing: Matt Brooks
