ESCONDIDO : Officer Shoots Dog After Stopping Car

An Escondido police officer shot and killed a German shepherd that charged at him as he tried to arrest the dog’s 19-year-old owner, who had earlier led authorities on a car chase, police said.

Police tried to pull over George Paul Bull of Escondido for a traffic stop shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday near Hale Avenue and Tulip Street, Lt. John R. Wilson said. The chase ended when Bull turned into a private drive and got out of his car with his dog, police said.

But the dog then charged at Officer Bob Curtin, who tried to back away, Wilson said. Fearing he was about to be attacked, Curtin shot and killed the dog, officials said.

Police then arrested Bull and placed him in a police car, where he began kicking the car’s doors and windows, causing major damage, Wilson said. Police restrained Bull and took him to the Escondido Police Department.

Bull was being held on suspicion of driving with willful disregard, driving on a suspended driver’s license, misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and misdemeanor vandalism, jail officials said. His bail was set at $9,659.