Thaindian News

Melbourne, Apr 16 (ANI): A man in the US, who bit a police dog as it apprehended him for a burglary, is suing two Arizona cities for violating his civil rights and using excessive force during his capture.

According to the Arizona Republic, Erin Sullivan, 33, filed a lawsuit against the cities of Phoenix and Glendale seeking 250,000 dollars and 200,000 dollars respectively from the two cities for his alleged mistreatment.

Sullivan accused the Phoenix K-9 squad of going too far in his March 19, 2010 burglary arrest and the Glendale police of refusing to give him insulin to treat his diabetes, which the lawsuit says led to him suffering a seizure in his jail cell.

He was convicted of criminal trespassing, second-degree burglary and cruelty to animals over a Glendale burglary and subsequent tussle with a Phoenix police dog called Zeke during his arrest.

Sullivan, who is now serving an eight-year prison sentence, said in his complaint that it was unnecessary for police to deploy Zeke as he had surrendered, dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his head.

“The dog bit Erin three to four times, resulting in Erin having over 40 staples put into his body to heal the wounds,” the Herald Sun quoted the complaint as stating.

“When the dog went for Erin’s neck area, Erin felt his life was in danger and hit and bit the dog on its nose,” the suit added.

The bite to Zeke’s face required medical attention, police said at the time.

“Sullivan punched Zeke in the face then bit Zeke on his muzzle. Zeke then repositioned his bite to Sullivan’s upper left arm. Sullivan pulled Zeke’s face toward his and bit Zeke over his right eye,” a police report said. (ANI)