TPD officer hospitalized after dog attacks him in North Toledo

1/16/2018

A Toledo police officer who shot and killed a dog that attacked and bit him in North Toledo was hospitalized Tuesday, authorities said.

Officer Mel Russell was treated at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center for a laceration on his left forearm and then released, according to a written statement released by police.

Officer Russell was helping evacuate a house about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the scene of a stove fire in the 1800 block of Mulberry Street when the house occupants’ “pit bull”-type dog attacked him as he tried to help them exit the house by the back door, according to police.

Police said Officer Russell then threw the dog off of him. The dog then attacked again, biting him on his left forearm, at which time he tried to shake the dog off and failed. He then shot the dog three times, killing it, police said.