Man Arrested After Allegedly Punching OKC Police Dog

A man suspected of stealing a vehicle also repeatedly punched an Oklahoma City K9 while trying to get away from officers, police say.

Just after 2:30 a.m. on November 15, police were called to the 5000 block of Colfax Place when someone reported a pickup truck had been stolen. The truck owner then called police back and said he'd spotted the stolen truck near N.W. 50th Street and Portland.

Police caught up to the vehicle and tried to pull over the driver, but the man behind the wheel refused to stop. Police say that man was 30-year-old Richard Simpson. Police chased Simpson for several minutes, until he drove into a heavily-wooded area near Meridian and Newcastle.

Police say Simpson ditched the car and hid in the tall grass. Police searched for him, using officers on the ground and Air One, the police helicopter.

A K9 unit finally located Simpson. Police say the dog latched onto Simpson, and the suspect punched the dog several times in the face in an attempt to escape. The dog refused to let go, and police took Simpson into custody.

Simpson was treated at a hospital, and then booked into the Oklahoma County jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police officers, and mistreating or interfering with a police dog.