WESTERLY, R.I. -- A Westerly woman was bitten by a police dog by mistake after being caught between the police and a suspect.
Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Westerly police were in pursuit of Ralph Desimone, who was wanted on five Superior Court arrest warrants for probation violations. He was driving a Chrysler Minivan behind Haswell Street in the city, trying to elude the officers, according to Chief Edward Mello.
"And then actually drove up an embankment trying to cut through one of the neighborhoods in the back," said Mello, of the Westerly Police Department. "His vehicle became stuck on that embankment."
Police said Desimone fled across the street. Neighbors came out of their houses to watch the chase.
Witnesses in the neighborhood said the woman who lives in the house came out to watch the commotion. They said that's when the K-9 dog came up and bit her in the ankle.
"The female that came out of the house somehow got between the K-9 and the suspect, so the K-9 grabbed onto the female and essentially grabbed her ankle," said Mello.
One witness who didn't want to be identified said, "It was a little bloody. I guess she has a couple holes in it like that. They had to hit the dog to get him off her. Apparently he wasn't obeying any of the commands or anything."
"Certainly that's contrary to what the officers on the scene are reporting," said Mello. "And, in fact, is contrary to what the woman is reporting."
Police said the woman's husband tried to help apprehend the suspect.
"It's an unfortunate thing that she got in between the dog and the suspect," said Mello. "So what the reason was why she, why the dog tried to apprehend this woman, I can't say."
The injured woman and her husband now have an attorney. The police investigation continues. Meanwhile, Desimone has been charged with numerous violations and possession of heroin.
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