Omaha police K-9 bites uninvolved man during arrest

Omaha police say a K-9 bit an uninvolved 63-year-old man during a felony warrant arrest, and the department is reviewing its deployment policies.

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Omaha police K-9 bites uninvolved 63-year-old man during felony warrant arrest

OMAHA, Neb. —

Omaha police said a K-9 deployment resulted in injury to an uninvolved person while officers were serving a felony assault warrant.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Daiton Thomas for a felony assault investigation after an incident on July 22, officials said.

Omaha police said detectives from the assault unit attempted to contact Thomas at a residence near North 47th Avenue and Miami Street on Thursday.

Thomas answered the front door of the residence, then ran out the back door and through neighboring backyards, before hiding in a nearby yard with overgrowth, investigators said.

Omaha police said a K-9 was deployed to assist in the search and apprehension of Thomas. The K-9 was released from its leash near where the suspect was last seen by drone surveillance, officials said.

“The area appeared to be secured by a fence and had heavy overgrowth inside,” Omaha police said in a release.

Omaha police said the K-9 slipped through a fence and bit an uninvolved person in a nearby garage. The 63-year-old man was taken to Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of dog bite injuries and released.

Investigators said Thomas attempted to run from the search team again and was apprehended. He resisted arrest and injured an officer during the incident.

Omaha police said the K-9 was deployed again and Thomas was taken into custody.

He was also treated at Nebraska Medical Center and released, officials said.

Omaha police Chief Todd Schmaderer was alerted to the incident, and officials said: “policies and procedures surrounding K9 deployment are already under review as a result of this incident.”

Officials said an Omaha Police Department command officer met with the 63-year-old man at the hospital to offer an apology for the incident.

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