Police Dog Killed During Pursuit of Man

HUNTINGTON BEACH — A man who police said led them on a chase through two cities was arrested Sunday after he allegedly stabbed a police dog to death at the end of the pursuit.

Nick Spagnolla, 38, of Pennsylvania, was arrested on suspicion of evading police and killing the dog, Police Lt. Jack Reinholtz said.

The incident occurred about 5:15 p.m. when Officer Jim Weaver tried to stop Spagnolla for a traffic violation near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Golden West Avenue, Reinholtz said.

“As (Weaver) approached the suspect’s car, the suspect sped away,” Reinholtz said. Weaver pursued Spagnolla into Seal Beach, where a patrol car from that city’s Police Department joined in the chase.

Spagnolla was caught in heavy traffic at the intersection of Seal Beach and Westminster boulevards, where he jumped out of his car and tried to run away, Reinholtz said.

At that point, Weaver released his canine partner, Kim, to track down the fleeing man.

The dog caught the suspect, who produced a 4-inch-long knife and repeatedly stabbed the dog, Reinholtz said.

During the struggle, Spagnolla suffered dog bites and also apparently stabbed himself in his right thigh, police said. He was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Kim was taken to a veterinarian by helicopter for treatment of multiple stab wounds but died about three hours later, police said.

“The dog’s a hero,” said Sgt. Dan Johnson, who heads the department’s canine unit. “The dog’s job is to protect the police officer. If we had had a police officer chasing Spagnolla we might have had a dead police officer instead.”

Johnson said that Weaver and Kim had been partners for about 3 1/2 years and had “a very strong bond. . . . (Weaver’s) taking it really hard.”