El Cajon

An El Cajon police officer shot and killed a dog Sunday afternoon after it bit another officer twice while he tried to arrest the dog’s owner, according to El Cajon police.

Richard Carlos Fernandez, 30, was arrested at Wells Park and is being held in County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, assault and battery.

According to police, an animal control officer was called to the park at 2 p.m. Sunday to investigate a report of a stray dog.

Police said the animal control officer found the dog, a chow, whose owner, Fernandez, became angry, shouted at the officer and allegedly “backed her to her vehicle,” where she radioed for assistance.

Two police officers responded, and a struggle broke out between the officers and Fernandez, police said. The dog bit one of the police officers, and Fernandez allegedly encouraged the dog to bite the officer again. The dog obeyed, biting the officer on the arm and lower back. The other officer then shot the dog in the head.

Injuries to the police officer, who was not identified, were not serious. He was given a tetanus shot.