19-Year-Old Woman Suing City of Lakeland After Being Bitten By Police Dog
A young woman is filing a lawsuit against Lakeland, claiming that she suffered injuries after a police dog attacked her after it was accidentally released from the arresting officer’s patrol vehicle. According to the Lakeland Ledger, the woman is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.
The incident happened in the early morning after the police attempted to break up a verbal argument between the plaintiff and a friend. When the two refused to separate after being told do so by the officers, they were arrested and charged with resisting arrest without violence.
The Florida Southern College student claims that one of the officer’s threw her to the ground and handcuffed her. During the arrest, the dog escaped the officer’s vehicle and bit her on the buttocks. The lawsuit claims the dog tore into muscle and that she was severely injured during the encounter.
The arresting officer claims that during the arrest, the woman accidentally triggered a device on his gun belt that remotely opened the patrol car door.
The attorney representing the woman told the Ledger, “There should be some safeguards in place to prevent this from happening.” He also indicated that his client has permanent scarring and now has a fear of dogs.
Prosecutors who reviewed the arrest refused to file charges, saying that the women had not been committing any crimes when officers arrived.
If you believe that you’ve suffered an injury due to the negligence of another individual, you have the legal right to seek damages for your injuries. The personal injury attorneys at Farah & Farah in Jacksonville would like to review your case and discuss your legal options. Call our dedicated legal team at (800) 533-3555 or contact us online. Your case review and consultation are free.
