CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — A K9 handler with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is on leave after his dog escaped his outdoor enclosure, jumped a 5-foot fence, and then bit a child who was in the neighboring yard.
The sheriff's office said the incident happened around 4 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the deputy's Castle Rock home while he was off-duty. The child's father intervened and was also bitten by the dog, according to the sheriff's office. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment but have since been released and are recovering at home, the sheriff's office said.
When the handler became aware that his dog had escaped, he gained control of the animal.
Castle Rock Police are investigating the incident and the sheriff's office has launched a separate internal investigation into what happened. The K9 handler has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of both investigations.
The K9 is under a mandatory 10-day quarantine and is barred from any contact with humans other than his handler. The sheriff's office said they're reviewing the future of the K9 as an active member of the unit.
