A Waukegan man allegedly kicked a Lake County sheriff’s canine “very hard” in the head, leading to the canine biting the suspect in Beach Park Wednesday afternoon.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 38800 block of North Gilbert Avenue in Beach Park for a report of a man attempting to break into a garage.
A second person called 911 reporting that she was being followed by a man matching the same description, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The caller informed sheriff’s dispatchers that the man insinuated he had a gun.
Multiple 911 calls also came in about the man trying to enter doors and screaming, prosecutors said.
Sheriff’s dispatchers were able to relay the information and help guide deputies to the man’s location.
Covelli said deputies arrived quickly and located the man, identified as Jose I. Pineda-Carillo, 34, of Waukegan.
Deputies attempted to speak with Pineda-Carillo but he was uncooperative and belligerent.
Pineda-Carillo continued acting aggressively despite deputies’ efforts to de-escalate the situation, Covelli said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Danno arrived to assist.
Pineda-Carillo suddenly kicked Danno in the head “very hard” as deputies moved closer to make the arrest, prosecutors said.
Covelli said Danno bit Pineda-Carillo on the foot in response to the kick. Danno was uninjured.
Deputies were able to take him into custody and determined that Pineda-Carillo was not armed. He was transported to a local hospital and later released.
“I am grateful that Canine Danno was uninjured after being kicked in the head by an out-of-control offender. Fortunately, none of our deputies were injured either,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“This incident is yet another reminder of the dangers and risks our deputies—and law enforcement officers across the country—face every day,” Idleburg said.
Pineda-Carillo was charged with striking a police canine, resisting arrest, attempted criminal trespass to property and disorderly conduct.
He appeared in First Appearance Court on Thursday morning where he was released because the charges are not detainable.
“Our legislature apparently has determined these are not detainable offenses, so you cannot be detained,” Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim told Pineda-Carillo in court.
The judge placed Pineda-Carillo on electronic home monitoring and on Level 4 pre-trial services monitoring. He was ordered to not consume alcohol or drugs, have no contact with the witnesses and not possess any weapons.
Pineda-Carillo is scheduled to appear in court again on February 20.