K-9 bites armed carjacking suspect during struggle, deputies say

Deputies: Suspect gets stolen car stuck in front of house after police chase

PINE HILLS, Fla. – An Orange County deputy is recovering from an injury he suffered while trying to secure a carjacking suspect in Pine Hills early Saturday morning, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies received a call about a crash at Pine Hills and Clarcona Ocoee roads around 7:25 a.m., deputies said. While deputies were on the way to the scene of the crash, the call was upgraded to an armed carjacking. The victim involved in the crash told deputies that when he got out of his car, the other driver pulled a gun and stole the victim's vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said.

Once deputies arrived at the scene, they confirmed the armed carjacking and located the suspect in the victim's car on Silver Star Road at Hastings Street, deputies said. Deputies said they tried to stop the suspect, but the suspect failed to stop, so the Sheriff's Office began a vehicle pursuit.

The suspect continued driving, making a right onto Pine Hills Road and eventually getting stuck after driving into the front yard of a home on Indialantic Drive, deputies said. 

Deputies said the suspect then exited the car, but refused to comply with deputies' commands, so a K-9 that was at the scene was deployed. The suspect grabbed onto the dog and was bitten on the right arm, deputies said. 

After a short struggle, deputies were able to secure the suspect, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said the K-9 handler suffered an injury to his knee while trying to secure the suspect. He was treated at Centra Care.

No other details were available. Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.