A man is suing the police department in West Jordan, Utah, for entering his home and ordering a K-9 police dog to viciously attack him, causing severe facial injuries.
Martin Hoogveldt was sitting on his couch with his hands in the air when the police showed up at his home in 2013 on a disturbing the peace complaint. Hoogveldt’s crime? He?burned a Christmas tree in a backyard trashcan.
West Jordan police officer Ian Adams?was assigned to the K-9, ?and ordered Hoogveldt to open the front door ? but the lawsuit claims he was afraid to move out of fear that he would be shot.
Adams kicked the door down, and he and three other officers entered Hoogveldt’s home. The lawsuit alleges that the officers did not have a warrant.
Hoogveldt raised his hands in the air, as Officer Adams instructed him, but could not get up off he couch because he says the cushions were too deep to allow him stand while his hands were over his head. For his failure to comply, Adams ordered the German shepherd K-9 to attack?Hoogveldt.
In the video, the police dog, named Pyro, is seen chewing on??Hoogveldt’s face for as the helpless man screams in pain. Adding insult to injury, the officers then?used Tasers up to four times?on?Hoogveldt and then the dog, at the command of Officer Adams, bit the suspect on the buttocks.
As a result of the attack by the dog, Hoogveldt had to undergo $60,000 in plastic surgery.
The police department says the officers acted with force because?they believed Hoogveldt posed a threat due to his previous arrests for aggravated assault and also because neighbors claim he threatened them with a knife when they complained about him burning the Christmas tree.
This incident in Utah is one of several involving the use of police dogs by law enforcement in recent months. In April, police in Vineland, New Jersey, allegedly?let their K-9 officer out of their patrol car to attack an?unconscious Phillip White. The dog bit White on his face and body.
Watch The Terrifying Body Camera Video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_6KM8YGTrQ
