Gary, IN – A Lake County police dog, “Rush,” was injured early Saturday morning when an allegedly intoxicated driver struck him during a search for a gunshot victim.
Officers were responding to a call about a gunshot victim in the 1300 block of Taney Street around 1:10 a.m. Officer A. Cuevas and his K9 partner, Rush, were conducting a search when a red Ford Focus, traveling at high speed, headed toward them. Officer Cuevas managed to evade the vehicle, but Rush was hit.
According to the Gary Police Department, the driver, a 42-year-old woman from Gary, appeared intoxicated when she was stopped by officers. She was identified and taken to Methodist Hospital for a blood draw. She faces multiple charges, including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle without a license, and striking a law-enforcement animal.
Rush was transported to Hobart Animal Hospital, where he received treatment for lacerations and bandaged for a road rash. The K9 officer also developed complications in his lungs and will be under observation for several weeks.
The driver remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
