TUCSON, Ariz. — A Tucson PD K9 officer is recovering after being injured during a suspect apprehension, officials said.
The Tucson Police Department shared information on the incident on its Facebook page.
Around 2 a.m. on May 15, Tucson police located 27-year-old Frank K. Garcia, a bank robbery suspect, near Pima Street and Swan Road in Tucson, authorities said. Tucson PD said the SWAT team, Neighborhood Crimes Unit and K-9 team assisted with the investigation.
According to officials, when authorities tried to make contact with Garcia, he disregarded commands and fled from officers.
As Garcia fled, the K-9 Unit pursued and caught up to him. By the time officers arrived on the scene to detain Garcia, officers observed a homemade knife on the ground next to him where he had been apprehended by K-9 Officer Blitz, Tucson PD said.
Blitz was bleeding from the neck area, was treated by his handler and transported to VCA Valley Animal Hospital, officials said in the Facebook post.
According to Tucson PD, Garcia was taken into custody and booked into Pima County Jail on charges of Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer.
After receiving care from personnel at VCA Valley Animal Hospital And Emergency Center, Blitz, is "on the road to recovery," the Facebook post read.
Tucson police added that Garcia was wanted in connection with a robbery of a US Bank on May 10, 2019.
The Facebook post from the Tucson Police Department is below, but viewer discretion is advised. The post contains a graphic image of Blitz's injury.
