PWCPD: Dog shot by police after biting officer, owner to face charges

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Prince William County police shot a dog after it and two others were acting aggressively in a Manassas neighborhood on Wednesday morning, leading their owner to face several charges, authorities detailed.

The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said officers responded to the 7500 block of Whitehall Drive just before 8:45 a.m. after receiving a vicious animal complaint.

Investigators said three Rottweilers were reported to be loose in the neighborhood and had bitten two people by the time police arrived. Both victims are adults who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, authorities noted.

PWCPD tried to contain the animals in a police cruiser, but at one point, one of the dogs lunged toward and bit an officer. This led the other two dogs to approach the officer aggressively.

The officer shot their duty weapon, striking one of the dogs, which then ran away.

Animal Control Officers and the dogs’ owner arrived and were eventually able to detain all three dogs.

The dog that had been shot was taken to a nearby vet, where it was humanely euthanized, PWCPD said.

The other two dogs were surrendered to Animal Control.

The owner of the dogs was reportedly charged with not having a dog license and allowing dogs at large. Additional charges are pending, PWCPD noted.