WESTERLY - A local woman will seek damages from the town after a police dog bit her on the ankle last week, her lawyer said on Monday.
Providence attorney John P. Barylick, who represents Linda Johnson, 47, of 3 Haswell St., said he plans to submit administrative claims to the town once his client learns the extent of her injuries.
Johnson wants the town to pay her for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and scarring, Barylick said.
A police photo released last week showed that the police dog, a German Shepherd, left scratches and a puncture wound on Johnson's ankle. However, the injury required no stitches and the woman was released from The Westerly Hospital on the day of the incident, police Chief Edward A. Mello said last week. Police reported the woman and her husband, Brian I. Johnson, heard police sirens in their home and decided to go outside to view the situation. The husband then chased suspect Ralph A. DeSimone across the street to his neighbor's yard at 6 Haswell St. Officers followed, and DeSimone walked out of the garage to surrender.
The police pursuit began earlier when DeSimone, who was wanted for violating his probation, saw police in an unmarked car from his apartment at 2 Beacon Street. He and Christine M. Spence got into a red Dodge van and sped away from authorities, according to reports.
Patrolman Steven Johnson spotted the van on Chestnut Street and chased the vehicle to the parking lot of Gaffney Dolan Funeral Home at 59 Spruce St., where DeSimone's car got stuck on an embankment and he fled on foot.
Johnson freed the dog, Deke, which apprehended Linda Johnson, but released her on his orders spoken in German, police reported.
Barylick said the dog ran in the opposite direction of the chase to attack Linda Johnson.
Mello declined comment on the claims and Barylick's comments.
Brian Johnson, reached at home last week, said his wife was standing away from the path of the suspect when the dog "latched onto her leg." The officer had to beat the dog over the head six to eight times for it to release her, the husband said.
Mello said he has assigned two lieutenants to review the incident. The chief said he was unaware of any previous incident in which one of the department's police dogs had mistakenly apprehended a civilian.
"I have the utmost confidence in the officer and how we train (the dog)," Mello said last week. "We take our K-9 program very seriously.
"DeSimone, 39, was arrested on five Superior Court bench warrants and charged with high-speed pursuit, felony possession of heroin, driving in possession of a controlled substance, eluding police and driving with a suspended license, according to police.
Spence, 39, of 2 Beacon St., was charged with felony possession of heroin. She pleaded not guilty in Fourth Division District Court in Wakefield last week was released on $5,000 personal recognizance.
DeSimone pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges and entered no plea on all felony counts in district court, Mello said. He was ordered held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. Bail on the misdemeanors was set at $5,000 with surety. Mello said he is scheduled to appear in superior court on Wednesday
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