Today's Most Popular Video
Nov 30, 2009 5:08 pm US/Central
Minneapolis K9 Dies During Burglary Call
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
-
-
Chase, a Minneapolis K9, died Monday on a call for a suspected burglary. He fell off a roof and sustained deadly injuries.
Minneapolis Police Department
A Minneapolis K9 died after falling off the roof of a three-story building, during a possible burglary call.
Police say officers were called to the 200-block of Hennepin Avenue South for a suspected burglary in progress, just after 7 a.m. Monday.
The K9, named Chase, was called in to assist after police found evidence that the suspect was possibly still in the building. Chase and his handler, Officer Eric Lukes, were searching the roof when the dog fell and sustained grave injuries.
"While Chase was running over to the edge, he leapt over the side of the wall and fell four or five stories," said Sgt. Dan May, a Minneapolis Police Department K9 supervisor.
The K9 was taken to the University of Minnesota for medical treatment but couldn't be saved.
"It's terrible. Officer Lukes was obviously very shaken up by it," May said. "The whole police department is shaken up. You spend more time with your dog than you do with your significant other. Not only is it a loss for Eric, it is a loss for his family because dogs live with us and become a part of your family."
Chase has been in service with the Minneapolis Police Department since 2007 and has provided thousands of hours of service to the city and the department, handling assignments deemed too unsafe for his human partners.
Chase is the third Minneapolis Police Department K9 to die in the line of duty while searching for a suspect. The most recent was back in 1997 when Jake was killed when he went off a roof in downtown Minneapolis with his handler, Officer Lisa Kern.
Chase turned 3 years old in August. He will be cremated and his remains could be buried in the pet cemetery behind the Minneapolis Police Department kennel in Northeast Minneapolis.
Officers at the scene of the suspected robbery apprehended three suspects -- two women and a man -- in connection with this case. There will be no charges against the suspects for Chase's death, since they didn't directly cause the K9's fall.
"The MPD family is saddened by this loss and by what it means to Officer Lukes and his immediate family," said Chief Tim Dolan. "The service that the canines provide is invaluable to safeguarding the lives of our officers and the loss of a canine partner is very hard on the family of the officer who raise these animals as their own."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Swimsuit Cover Model Forgot To Wear Top
Click to enlarge
$1B Public Works Bill Clears Minn. Senate 1 min ago
Stumble It!
