Two police officers from Sterling Heights, Michigan, are facing criminal charges in connection with a February arrest that included the use of a police dog against a suspect who had already been apprehended. The charges were announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who called into question the officers' decision to deploy K9 assistance during the arrest of the suspect, Garry Young.
Officers James Sribniak, 31, and Jack Currie, 29, are each facing one count of Misconduct in Office and one count of Felonious Assault, according to Michigan Department of Attorney General. The incident in question occurred on February 25, during which Young was pursued for charges that included domestic violence and fleeing from an earlier traffic stop. Although Young was already subdued and surrounded by police officers on the ground, Sribniak's K9 was ordered to bite him, purportedly at the urging of Currie.
In her statement, Attorney General Nessel emphasized the proper role of K9 units, saying, "K9 assistance can be a valuable tool for law enforcement but must be deployed with good judgment." She stressed that “K9 Officers are rigorously trained in the proper use of police dogs and should be held to the highest standards of conduct. We should be able to trust them to not deploy a dog as an unnecessary and unlawful punitive measure to brutally attack a human being. In this incident, deploying a K9 on a suspect already on the ground and well-surrounded by officers is not only horrific but illegal. My office remains committed to thoroughly investigating and prosecuting police misconduct.” These remarks reflect the severity of the charges the officers now face, as per the Department of Attorney General.
Hailing from Fox 2 Detroit's coverage of the incident, police say Young was accused of assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, and inflicting harm on a minor before the pursuit. Despite a blown tire from deployed stopsticks and 23 commands to stop resisting, Young continued his evasion, which ultimately led to a 13-mile chase and his apprehension. Further details from Fox 2 Detroit reveal the use of force by the K9 lasted about a minute, after which Young received medical attention for minor injuries sustained during the bite.
Both officers Sribniak and Currie are currently on paid leave, pending arraignment and court dates that have yet to be set. The charges represent a decisive action by the Attorney General's office against what it deems as excessive use of force and misconduct within law enforcement ranks.
