Oklahoma City Police Officer Shoots Suspect Who Threatened Dog

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma City police officer shot and wounded a burglary suspect after the man threatened a police dog and the officer with a box cutter.<br/><br/>Captain Jeff Becker says police

Monday, September 25th 2006, 11:21 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma City police officer shot and wounded a burglary suspect after the man threatened a police dog and the officer with a box cutter.

Captain Jeff Becker says police were investigating a suspected burglary at a warehouse in northwest Oklahoma City when Sergeant Coy Gilbert and the dog named Aron went inside to look for the suspect.

Becker says Aron found the suspect who began slashing at the dog with the box knife then lunged at Gilbert and Gilbert opened fire.

The man identified as Richard Graham was hit by the gunfire and is now hospitalized with what are considered non-life threatening injuries.

Becker says Graham will be arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon on a police officer, mistreating a police dog and burglary.

Gilbert is on leave with pay pending an investigation of the shooting.

Aron is a 4-year-old German shepherd and is the same dog that was shot in the jaw by a gunman in May.