Man held after police dog is stabbed

A Lawndale man was arrested by Redondo Beach police Monday, accused of threatening the life of a family member and stabbing a police dog, authorities said.

Jimmie Lunceford, 39, allegedly stabbed the dog, apparently in an effort to get officers to shoot him, said Lt. Joe Hoffman, a spokesman for the department.

Lunceford was arrested on felony counts of making terrorist threats, inflicting injury on a police dog and attempted burglary, along with misdemeanor evading arrest.

Lunceford was taken into custody about 5 a.m. after a short slow-speed chase that ended outside a woman’s home on the 2200 block of Rockefeller Lane in Redondo Beach.

Police began searching for Lunceford after a family member, described only as an adult female, reported that he had made death threats and tried to break into her home.

After police caught up with Lunceford, they said, he yelled at officers to shoot him.

When officers released a police dog, Valor, to subdue Lunceford, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the dog.

Officers, however, managed to apprehend Lunceford. He was taken to Los Angeles County Jail, where he was under suicide watch, Hoffman said.

The dog was stabbed twice in the neck area, Hoffman said, but was expected to fully recover and return to work in two to three weeks.