Lakewood Officer Shoots Pit Bull After It Tries To Attack: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Lakewood police say an officer shot a pit bull on Monday after the dog acted aggressively toward the officer and another dog.

Officers were called to Pine Acres Estates for a report of a dog running loose about 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Officers Cameron Rose and Anthony Prisco found the dog, a pit bull, running along Erica Road. They got ahead of the dog and tried to approach it, but the dog was snarling and growling at Rose and at a golden retriever that was sitting on a nearby porch, Staffordsmith said.

The golden retriever ran from the porch, through an open gate to a chain link fence and into the backyard. Rose tried to close the open gate to keep the pit bull from following, but the pit bull turned its aggression toward Rose, Staffordsmith said.

Rose tried to create a barrier between the dog and himself by retreating to the other side of his patrol car, but the dog followed, growling and snarling at Rose, Staffordsmith said.

Rose then shot one round at the dog, injuring it, Staffordsmith said. The dog ran to a neighboring yard and was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital. The dog's condition was not immediately available.

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