El Cajon police dog stabbed in head taking down man suspected of tire slashing

An El Cajon police dog was stabbed in the head Wednesday as he took down a man who police said had used a knife to slash several car tires then charged at an officer.

Jester, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, was rushed to an emergency animal hospital and treated for his injuries. The animal was recovering at home Thursday, the department said in a news release.

The 25-year-old suspect was taken to a trauma center to be treated for dog bites, then booked into San Diego Central Jail.

The incident started about 5:15 p.m. when someone flagged down an El Cajon police officer to report seeing a man slashing car tires on Roanoke Avenue near Main Street, about a block east of the police station.

The officer spotted the suspect, and saw he had a 6-inch steak knife. The officer called for back up, police said.

The department said the man — who still had the knife — charged at an officer then ran off toward a nearby school.

Officers fired foam projectiles known as sponge rounds at the man. He was hit, but it didn’t take him down.

Police then released Jester to apprehend the man. The man and the dog struggled, police said, and the man stabbed Jester in the head.

Investigators found more than two dozen vehicles with slashed tires on Roanoke.

The man was arrested on suspicion of several charges, including assault on a police officer, assault on a police dog and vandalism.

Jail records indicate he is being held in lieu of $250,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.

Jester joined the El Cajon Police Department in 2015 thanks to efforts from an El Cajon Animal Shelter booster group and a $15,000 grant.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com