Police officer shoots at charging dog but hits partner instead, Michigan cops say

A police officer opened fire on a loose dog but missed and wounded their partner as they responded to a call in a Detroit neighborhood, Michigan cops told news outlets.

The two officers arrived near the intersection of Prevost Avenue and Hackett Street around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, the Detroit Police Department told WJBK. They headed to the westside neighborhood for a mental health check, following reports that someone in the area was possibly suicidal.

But shortly after they exited their vehicle, a dog ran into the yard, charging at the officers, police told WDIV. One of the officers drew their gun and fired, hitting their partner in the leg.

The wounded officer was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, the outlet reported.

The owners of the dog — a 9-year-old bulldog — said officers handled the situation poorly and that the dog was only barking and not presenting a real threat, TV station WXYZ reported.

Detroit police deny that version of events, saying the dog was running at their officers, who had good reason to fear for their safety, according to the station.

An investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Police officer shoots at charging dog but hits partner instead, Michigan cops say."