Police Officer Shoots Charging Pit Bull In Wantagh, Cops Say

WANTAGH, NY — A police officer opened fire on a charging pit bull Saturday night while responding to a report of a suspicious person in Wantagh, a spokesman for Nassau County police said. Officers were called to Cherrywood Drive around 9:30 p.m. Saturday for a suspicious person, Newsday first reported.

A dog belonging to the person who called 911 charged the police officer, who fired three rounds and fell to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement. The officer received a couple of staples to his head, a spokesman for the police department told Patch on Sunday night.

The officer was identified only by his last name, Daddino.

The dog was taken to veterinarian in unknown condition. It wasn't immediately clear how many times the dog was shot.

Further details weren't immediately released.