Heroic K-9 killed by incarcerated MS-13 members, Virginia Department of Corrections says



A 5-year-old K-9 passed away due to injuries sustained in the line of duty, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections, which reported that Corrections Officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields and the dog responded when inmates tied to MS-13 assaulted another prisoner.

The Belgian Malinois named Rivian passed away after being "repeatedly stabbed and kicked," VADOC noted.

"On Tuesday, April 2, three inmates affiliated with the MS-13 gang who are housed at Sussex I State Prison viciously attacked another inmate within one of the facility's housing units. A fourth inmate appeared to be supervising the brutal assault," VADOC noted. "Rivan was violently and repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the inmates and later tragically died at the facility while VADOC staff attempted lifesaving measures.

"Officer Phillip Fields, a trained K-9 handler and 4-year veteran of the Department, sustained no serious injuries due to her training and Rivan's courageous actions. Order was restored by Officer Phillip Fields, responding Corrections Officers, and Rivan's actions. The attacked inmate was transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the attack and was later returned to the facility," VADOC noted.

The department indicated that that the inmates involved in the assault had been in the country unlawfully when they were arrested.

"The inmates involved in the malicious attack are from El Salvador and Guatemala and at least three are verified members of MS-13. The Department has confirmed that all four of the inmates were in the United States illegally at the time of their arrest and conviction. The inmates are incarcerated for several charges, including first degree homicide, attempted rape, kidnapping/abduction, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, child pornography charges, grand larceny, and possession of a Schedule III Drug. The Virginia Department of Corrections intends to pursue prosecution of these inmates to the fullest extent of the law," VADOC noted.

The animal would have been 6 years old at the end of this month, according to VADOC, which noted that the dog's "father worked for a police department in Southwest Virginia and his mother worked for the United States Secret Service."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a tweet, "God bless Rivan, a heroic K-9 who was killed in the line of duty in Virginia. These barbaric members of MS-13 will be held accountable."

— (@)

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Suspect tries to flee Phoenix police by leaping rooftop to rooftop. When that fails, he tries to outrun a K-9 unit.



A suspect took a police chase to the rooftops of Phoenix Tuesday evening. Despite some bold moves, he was ultimately brought down by gravity and a particularly eager K-9 unit.

Police indicated in a statement obtained by KSAZ-TV that Jamie Chavira's downfall Tuesday began when he allegedly failed to stop his vehicle for police in the area of 38th Avenue and Mobile Lane.

"The vehicle failed to yield to a traffic stop and felony flight was established," said the statement. "Officers did not initiate a pursuit of the vehicle. Rather, it was tracked to the area of 35th Avenue and Roeser Street."

Chavira, 19, was reportedly seen in the area jumping into the back yard of several homes as well as climbing onto a number of rooftops.

Christelle Kouam Chuene was at home with her three sleeping children when she heard the commotion.

Chuene told KSAZ, "When I looked out my window, I saw somebody jumping house to house. ... I saw him jumping from one house to the other one. It was so crazy. It was really cray and scary."

"I just saw the guy jumping like a monkey," she added. "He seems like he knew what he was doing."

Evidently, Chavira didn't know how to do it successfully.

The final moments of the chase were captured by Chuene's Ring doorbell camera.

The footage shows the shirtless suspect illuminated by a helicopter's search light atop the roof of a West Phoenix home near 35th Avenue and Roeser Road. Several officers can be seen closing in below with nonlethal weapons at the ready.

Undaunted by what appears to be a gap at least 10 feet wide, Chavira leaps toward the neighboring roof. Lacking the luck and grace necessary to traverse the divide, he lands between the houses.

Though grounded, Chavira is not yet willing to surrender. Instead, he pushes aside the blue bin that helped break his fall and makes a mad dash past police, through a hail of nonlethal rounds, and across the driveway of the neighboring house. Again, he is thwarted by his own ineptitude.

This time, he loses his footing, stumbles, then finds himself fighting the jaws of the law.

A K-9 unit got its teeth into what appears to be his hand. It thrashes its fleshy ransom until police officers are able to make the arrest.

K9 TAKEDOWN:\nPhoenix Police deployed a K9 on a suspect attempting to flee on foot after falling off a roof while jumping between houses last night.\n\n#News #Phoenix #Police #PoliceK9 #CaughtOnCamera
— Jack | OnSceneTV Phoenix (@Jack | OnSceneTV Phoenix) 1697595203

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Chavira was charged with two counts of transportation violations and at least one count of criminal trespass and burglary. KSAZ indicated he has also been charged with resisting arrest.

Following his arrest, he was taken to a hospital to be treated for a dog bite, according to police.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

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Alleged kidnapper caught hiding in laundry room under pile of clothes, garbage — and sheriff says bite from K-9 'Gator' had suspect 'cryin' like a little baby'



An alleged kidnapper was caught hiding in a Florida laundry room under a pile of clothes and garbage recently, and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said a bite from a K-9 named "Gator" left the suspect "cryin' like a little baby."

What are the details?

Ivey let his wit fly freely in a video posted on his office's Facebook page describing the arrest of 31-year-old David Hallaman, who was wanted out of Massachusetts on charges of false imprisonment, kidnapping, criminal mischief, battery, and felony battery by strangulation.

Image source: Brevard County (Florida) Sheriff's Office

"This is Brevard County, and we don’t play," Ivey said on the clip. "We will send a dog in to take a bite out of crime."

Ivey said K-9 Gator sniffed out Hallaman — who stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, according to jail records — and showed him "what happens when you play hide and seek" with the law.

"Gator don’t play that and decided that one of Hallaman’s triceps would probably taste a little bit like chicken," Ivey said as an image of the suspect's arm — badly wounded with bloody teeth marks — appeared on the screen.

Image source: Brevard County (Florida) Sheriff's Office

With that, Ivey said Hallaman — "Mr. Tough Guy" — began "cryin' like a little baby," gave himself up, and was soon taken to an emergency room for a spell.

Hallaman was booked Oct. 4 into Brevard County Jail. Ivey said he's stuck behind bars without bond as he awaits extradition to Massachusetts — and Hallaman was still there Thursday afternoon, jail records showed.

The capture took place in the laundry room of a residence in Mims during a domestic violence call, a sheriff's office media relations official told TheBlaze Thursday. Mims is about 45 minutes east of Orlando.

How did folks react?

As you might imagine, folks reacting to the takedown on Facebook were happy with the way things turned out. Here are just a few of them:

  • "Way to go, Gator!" one commenter exclaimed.
  • "I hope that bite didn’t turn officer puppy against chicken," another commenter crowed.
  • "Love it!" another commenter wrote. "Give the dog a treat!"