GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened Saturday afternoon in northwest Grand Rapids.
Officers from the GRPD responded to a home on Alpine Avenue, where a man in his 40s allegedly was threatening to harm some family members. The man, whose name has not been released yet, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a police vehicle, catching it on fire.
After the flames were put out, a tactical team tried to talk the man into surrendering. Instead, police say he took off running and tried to carjack a motorist while holding a knife. That's when the Grand Rapids Police sent in a K9 officer, Digo, whom the man allegedly stabbed multiple times. Officers later confronted the man while he allegedly was trying to break into a home, and shot him dead when he charged at them with the knife.
The GRPD said in a Monday news release that the dog is expected to make a full recovery. He was released from the animal emergency hospital and is at home with his handler for further care.
“At this point, we expect Digo will return to the K9 team, but will have to evaluate his fitness for duty when he is fully healed,” said Deputy Chief P.J. Baker. “We are very grateful to the veterinarians and emergency staff at the animal hospital for their expertise and care. Not only did Digo have a stab wound to his head that required treatment, marks on his vest suggest additional stabbing attempts to his body which could have easily proven fatal.”
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