A police K-9 was injured on Christmas Day in a standoff with a suspected burglar in Pasadena, officials said. The scene of the altercation, which led to a temporary shutdown of a major thoroughfare, has now been cleared, with roads reopened to the public.
The incident began when the Pasadena Police Department responded to a burglary at the 99 Cent Only store on the 1700 block of East Colorado Boulevard. According to Pasadena Now, officers arrived around noon to find the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Jose Soto, inside the store. Traffic was blocked on Colorado Blvd. between Bonnie and Meredith Avenues as officers attempted to coax Soto out.
As the standoff continued, Lt. Edgar Sanchez relayed that Soto refused to leave the storage room he had barricaded himself within. A police dog was used just after 1:30 p.m. in an attempt to apprehend the suspect. "When the police dog was deployed, the suspect reportedly struck the dog with a metal object, injuring the dog’s snout," Lt. Sanchez stated.
The injured canine, a member of the Pasadena Police Department's K-9 unit, was subsequently taken to a veterinary clinic where it received treatment, including stitches. Thankfully, the dog is anticipated to make a full recovery. Following the attack, Soto surrendered to the authorities and was taken into custody without further injuries. Pasadena Now reports that Soto is facing charges of burglary and injury to a peace officer animal.
In an update posted by Nixle, the police activity in the 1700 block of E. Colorado Blvd. has concluded, and the road, previously interrupted by the law enforcement response, is now open to all vehicular traffic.
