Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 — The Hurricane Police Department K-9 that was stabbed in the line of duty and critically injured this week is making progress at a veterinary clinic in Las Vegas, the department announced Wednesday.
"Riko is doing good and progressing all the time. He is too tough and stubborn to let this keep him down too long. He can move around a little but it takes all of his energy. Thank you to everyone that has reached out and sent their prayers, good vibes, and thoughts. They are felt and appreciated," Riko's handler, officer Eric DeMille, said in a prepared statement. "Still not sure what muscular, nerve or neurological damage of any kind happened but should find out more this afternoon."
Riko was injured Monday night while confronting a man who had walked into a home, at random. Jose Palacios Pascacio, 46, of Hurricane, who allegedly stabbed Riko in the neck, was shot and killed by police during the confrontation.
Man fatally shot, K9 stabbed after pursuit, crash
— On Patrol K9 (@OnPatrolK9) December 27, 2022
🙏K9 stabbed in the neck, critical condition
No names. May be K9 Riko, Hurricane PD
Partner Officer Demillehttps://t.co/poJgT4q809@HurricaneUtPD#ThinBlueLine#dog#K9#police#WaronDrugs#DogsoTwitter#OPLive@OfficialOPLivepic.twitter.com/xfoZmQaSJa
Additional details on the moments leading up to the confrontation were not provided Wednesday. A Hurricane police officer and a Washington County sheriff's deputy have been placed on standard paid administrative leave while the officer-involved shooting is investigated by the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force.
Hurricane officers were originally called Monday night 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.
As the man was trying to get away, police say he drove "very slowly and erratically" near 700 West and made "numerous abrupt U-turns," and eventually crashed into another vehicle. 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.
Following the fatal confrontation at the home with police, Riko, a 5½-year-old Belgian malinois/German shepherd mix, was rushed to a veterinary clinic in St. George, where the decision was made to transport him to Las Vegas. Because a medical helicopter was not available at that time, an ambulance to was used to take Riko and his handler to Las Vegas.
