A teenager has been arrested, and police are searching for two others following a dramatic car chase that ended early Monday morning with the tragic death of a police dog. The incident happened in Richland County, South Carolina, according to the local sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Leon Lott shared the heartbreaking news at a press conference on Monday, expressing both sorrow and anger over the loss. “The whole sheriff’s department is very sad that we lost one of our police dogs. Very sad, but also very mad,” Lott said.
The police dog, K9 Bumi, was shot and killed during the incident. This marks the third time this year that the Richland County Sheriff’s Department has lost a police dog in the line of duty. Sheriff Lott also mentioned that another dog from the department was previously shot on the job. Although that dog survived, it had to retire due to medical reasons.
“These dogs are out here protecting the community,” Lott said, emphasizing the vital role these animals play in keeping people safe.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to locate the two individuals still at large. The loss of K9 Bumi has shaken the department and serves as a painful reminder of the dangers faced by both officers and their K9 partners every day.
