Concord police K-9 recovering after being stabbed by suspect

CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- Officials said a stabbing suspect died after being allegedly shot by two police officers in Concord.

The suspect was accused of stabbing of a man, as well as a police canine who responded to the scene.

Officers responded at about 2 p.m. to a report of a stabbing in the 2900 block of Crawford Street, Concord police spokesman Cpl. Christopher Blakely said.

"He ran into my backyard, I was shocked," homeowner Marjam Wadan said.

Wadan called police when a naked man started running around her backyard.

After giving the suspect orders to surrender, officers sent a police canine named Jelle in to try to subdue the suspect, who used some sort of garden shears to allegedly stab the dog in the face, Blakely said.

Blakely said he didn't yet have the details about what happened next, but two officers allegedly shot the suspect, who was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and later died.

The victim in the initial stabbing, which involved a weapon other than the shears, is in stable condition at a hospital, Blakely said.

Blakely said the suspect, a man in his 30s whose name is not yet being released, had prior contacts with police.

The police dog Jelle is recovering at a veterinary hospital. "A K-9 was sent to apprehend the suspect, unfortunately our K-9 was stabbed in the face by the suspect with shears," Blakely said.

The two officers who allegedly shot the man both had more than 10 years of experience with the Concord Police Department and are being interviewed about the incident by investigators, Blakely said.

While what immediately preceded the shooting remains under investigation, Blakely said the fact that the dog was stabbed would not by itself warrant an officer to open fire. "As much as we love our dogs, a police canine is not considered an officer," he said. "Officers aren't going to shoot just because the dog is getting stabbed."

Bay City News contributed to this report.