SDSD K-9 Shot In Leg In Murrieta, Expected To Fully Recover

MURRIETA, CA —A San Diego Sheriff Department K-9 named Cezar is expected to make a full recovery after being shot in the leg early Monday morning, and he is being credited with helping officers stop a carjacking in Murrieta, which came at the end of a police chase, officers said.

Three suspects were arrested in the incident, which began after reports of a convenience store robbery in San Diego County. Police said SDSD K-9 handler deputies also were hurt in the shooting. A second police K-9 - Lew from the Murrieta Police Department and the Southwest Cities SWAT - also played a role in apprehending one of the suspects, according to authorities.

Cezar, the SDSD K-9, had bullet fragments removed from his leg by veterinarians at VCA California Veterinary Specialists in Murrieta, and he was released at 11 a.m. Monday morning, according to police. The sheriff's department said it would continue to provide updates on Cezar and his handler, Deputy John Avedisian, on Tuesday.

"Cezar was shot while trying to stop a suspect from carjacking people at the end of the chase," the SDSD said in a statement on social media. "He likely kept the suspect from getting away and possibly hurting others."

The SDSD added: "Cezar did as he was trained. He protected his deputy handler, the public and our law enforcement partners."

According to police reports, late Sunday night, a sheriff's deputy witnessed three men, at least one of which was armed, running from a 7-Eleven in San Diego County and jumping into a gray BMW sedan.

After a police pursuit - during which the suspects' vehicle reportedly reached speeds of 130 mph - the suspects' vehicle became disabled near a Shell gas station on Los Alamos Road in Murrieta. At which point, the three suspects attempted to carjack a passing vehicle, police said.

That's when a deputy from the SDSD released the police K-9 Cezar. One of the suspects fired a weapon, wounding the dog, police said.

The suspect who fired at the dog, and a second suspect were quickly apprehended. However, the third suspect fled into a nearby shopping center, police said.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau and the Southwest Cities SWAT, which includes officers Murrieta, Hemet and Menifee, joined the search, according to police.

Finally, with the help of the K-9 Lew, the third suspect was found hiding in the bushes and taken into custody. According to the MPD, the third suspect was bitten by the K-9, and the suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Marietta Police Lieutenant Phil Gomez, the commander for Southwest Cities SWAT, said Lew and his handler, officer Jacob Bock, were not injured in the incident.

Gomez said Lew and Cezar showed the vital role K-9s play in policing.

"The usage of K-9s prevents officers from putting themselves in dangerous situations. The dogs are invaluable to not only the safety of the public, but the safety of the officers, as well," Gomez told Patch. "They give us another dimension that we don't have without them."