A police officer was injured when he was bitten by a fellow officer -- a K-9 -- while on patrol, a spokesman for the Winter Haven Police Department said Friday.
The injured officer, Gary Lowery, was treated and released Thursday night from Winter Haven Hospital.
The dog bit one of Lowery's arms, said police spokesman J.J. Stanton.
Stanton didn't know the extent of his injuries.
For the dog, it was a case of mistaken identity.
Satu, the K-9, thought Lowery was a suspect, said Stanton. Lowery had been called out to help a fellow officer who was chasing a suspect on Sixth Street Southwest, just south of Central Avenue.
Officer Wilton Santos was chasing Jaimey Vandernitte, who was later arrested on charges of burglary, grand theft and resisting an officer without violence.
Santos called for backup and Lowery was sent to the scene, as was Satu and his handler, Greg McNally. Stanton said K-9s are trained to go after a moving target and Lowery didn't know Satu was behind him.
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