Family wants discipline after police dog bites toddler

By Robert Salonga rsalonga@ bayareanewsgroup.com

A police dog bit a toddler girl while officers were trying to arrest her uncle at their home last week, in what police and city officials are calling an accident.

“She was screaming and crying,” Isamar Pena, mother of 22-month-old Arabella, told KPIX. “It’s just something that all could have been avoided.”

Without reaching any formal settlement, the city of San Jose confirmed that it will cover medical costs for Arabella after meeting with the family Thursday.

“It’s just a real unfortunate incident,” city spokeswoman Carolina Camarena said.

Pena said “All I want is justice for my daughter,” but the family has not specified what they are

seeking.

The young girl received six stitches on her back to treat the injury inflicted the night of July 14 at the home in the 800 block of Bird Avenue, where San Jose police officers served an arrest warrant for Hector Pena, who was wanted for violating probation related to a prior vehicle theft conviction.

According to police, officers went to the home and asked residents there where he was. At one point, police say officers spotted Hector Pena try to leave the property through a side gate, but he was blocked by officers who had surrounded the home, and reportedly went back inside.

Other officers entered the home and tracked him to a room inside, but he did not follow their commands to surrender, police said. That’s when an officer with the SJPD K-9 unit brought a police dog into the home.

“During their entry, the canine turned toward a (22-month-old) child and accidentally bit the child,” police said in a statement.

The child’s mother offered a more dramatic account: “The first thing the dog did when it came was bit my daughter. He bit her on the back. And she wasn’t doing anything to provoke the dog.”

Police declined further comment on the dog encounter, but said the child was treated for non-life threatening injuries, and that officers eventually arrested Hector Pena. A source said the police dog is expected to given additional training. Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002.