K9 Takes Thanksgiving Bite Out of Suspect

By Martin Henderson

Thanksgiving got off to an early start for a member of the Orange County Sheriff's K9 unit, which took a bite out of the occupant of an allegedly stolen vehicle.

The series of events began on Thanksgiving day, at 3:20 a.m., when deputies pulled over a Honda that had been reported stolen a few hours earlier, according to Lt. Andy Ferguson of the OCSD. 

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The driver of the vehicle refused to get out of the car, and deputies didn't know whether the suspect was armed or not. As a precaution, deputies called a K9 unit to come to the scene. 

Once the dog arrived, it was sent to the vehicle and attacked the driver, who was bit in the process. He was detained by deputies shortly thereafter, according to Ferguson, and taken to a nearby hospital.

The showdown between man and beast took place on Toledo, just north of El Toro Road.