Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Sat 07/25/2009

Section: B Page: 3 Edition: 3 STAR R.O.

Officer fatally shoots burglary suspect armed with screwdriver

By By MICHELA GARCIA and LINDSAY WISE

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

A Houston police officer shot and killed a suspected burglar who attacked him and his police dog with a screwdriver, authorities said.

The officer was responding to a burglary call at an apartment in the 7100 block of Renwick about 4:20 p.m.

Residents in the apartment reported the burglary and when a patrol officer arrived the burglar was still inside, said HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva. The officer called for a supervisor and a canine unit.

The burglar soon left the apartment through the front window and was armed with a screwdriver, Silva said.

Officers, speaking in English and Spanish, ordered him to get on the ground. He ignored them, Silva said. When the canine team entered the apartment's patio area, the man began attacking the dog and the officer, Silva said.

Fearing for his safety, the officer shot the man, striking him once, Silva said. The man died at the scene, she said.

The dog was not seriously injured. The officer was wearing a protective vest.

The officer will be given three days of administrative leave, standard for all cases when an officer is involved in a shooting, Silva said.

lindsay.wise@chron.com

 

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