A Houston Police Department K‑9 was knocked unconscious after a man allegedly wrapped his hands around the dog’s neck inside a vacant apartment near NRG Park, according to authorities. Officers had gone to the Holly Hall Street unit to remove a man they say was squatting there and sent the police dog in first, where the encounter quickly turned violent.
Officers say they found 50‑year‑old Talmadge Blount inside the empty apartment and that he refused to follow verbal commands. Court records and reporting state that Blount allegedly choked the K‑9 until it lost consciousness and that officers used a stun device to break the hold. Blount was booked on a charge of interference with a police service animal and is being held on a $40,000 bond. An HPD spokesperson told reporters the K‑9 is expected to make a full recovery, according to Click2Houston.
What the charge means
The offense Blount faces, interference with a police service animal, is laid out in Texas Penal Code §38.151 and covers a range of conduct from taunting to injuring a police animal. Penalties vary based on how severe the conduct is, and injuring a service animal in a way that permanently affects its ability to work can elevate the case to a felony under state law, as outlined by Texas Penal Code §38.151, per Justia.
K‑9s injured while on duty
Houston law enforcement has seen police dogs hurt in the line of duty before. In a 2022 news release, the Houston Police Department described how an HPD dog named "Nate" was stabbed during an arrest attempt and later treated at an emergency veterinary clinic before recovering, illustrating the risks these animals face while assisting officers, according to the Houston Police Department.
Earlier this year a U.S. Marshals Service K‑9 known as Rocky was shot during a Houston manhunt and later returned to full duty after treatment. The episode underscored how agencies cooperate to rehabilitate injured working dogs, per Click2Houston.
What comes next
Blount remains in custody while court records move through the Harris County system, and prosecutors are expected to review investigative materials along with any veterinary reports before deciding on formal filings or enhancements. HPD said it is reviewing the circumstances of the call and did not immediately provide additional details beyond the initial statement.
