Andres Rodriguez Injured in Los Angeles Police K9 Attack

Andres Rodriguez Needed Surgery for an Infected LAPD Dog Bite After Being Cleared for Jail Booking

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (November 7, 2026) – A man identified as Andres Rodriguez was injured in a police K9 attack in a backyard in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the K9 bite occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15. Andres Rodriguez had run from a vehicle after a pursuit with LAPD Southwest Patrol Division officers, and Metropolitan Division K9 officers were called to search a perimeter set up in the area.

Officers found Rodriguez hiding under patio furniture in a backyard, and the LAPD says he grabbed the police dog, which bit his left hand and wrist. He was taken into custody without further force, and Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics were called.

Andres Rodriguez was taken to a hospital, treated, medically cleared for booking, and then taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center. Later that day, jail medical staff determined he needed a higher level of care, and a hospital physician diagnosed an infected bite that required surgery to irrigate and clean the wound.

Rodriguez was admitted for further treatment. No officers or community members were injured, according to police.

This is not the first time this year that an LAPD K9 bite has led to a serious infection. In August, the department reported that a man bitten during a Southeast Division K9 search was admitted for a bite infection and muscle breakdown in his arm, which the treating physician attributed to the K9 contact.

In other searches, the LAPD has said officers broadcast multiple K9 warnings over loudspeakers before sending a dog in, but the October 15 release does not say whether warnings were given. The fact that Rodriguez was cleared for booking, only to need surgery hours later, also raises questions about how thoroughly bite wounds are evaluated before someone is placed in custody.

Liability for Los Angeles Police K9 Attacks

Police dogs are trained to bite and hold, so courts treat their use as a significant use of force. California’s dog bite statute normally makes owners strictly liable for bites, but it exempts government agencies when a police dog is apprehending a suspect or defending an officer, and only if the agency has adopted a written policy on the appropriate use of dogs. That exemption does not end the analysis, because the Fourth Amendment still prohibits excessive force during an arrest. Courts weigh the severity of the suspected crime, whether the person posed an immediate threat, and whether they were actively resisting or trying to flee. Several factors often determine whether a K9 deployment crossed the line.

• Warnings: Officers are generally expected to announce a K9 search and give a person a chance to surrender before the dog is released.
• Bite Duration: A dog left on a bite after a person has been found or controlled can turn reasonable force into excessive force.
• Threat Level: Using a dog on someone who is hiding and unarmed may be judged differently than using it on someone believed to be armed.
• Handler Control: Handlers must be able to call a dog off quickly, which depends on training and certification.
• Medical Care: Agencies holding someone in custody are responsible for getting them appropriate treatment for injuries, including bite wounds.

One of the leading cases on police dogs came from Los Angeles itself. In Chew v. Gates (9th Cir. 1994), a man who ran from a traffic stop hid in a scrapyard for about two hours before an LAPD dog found him and bit him severely. The Ninth Circuit held that a jury could find the use of the dog excessive, noting that the man was hiding, had not threatened anyone, and was bitten under a policy that allowed dogs to seize suspects. The court also allowed claims against the city to proceed based on that policy.

Why Police Dog Bites Can Become Serious Medical Injuries

Dog bites combine puncture, tearing, and crushing forces, and they carry bacteria deep into tissue. According to a StatPearls clinical review published through the National Library of Medicine’s bookshelf, infection rates after dog bites range from 2% to 25%. Hand wounds carry particular risk; a 2014 American Family Physician review reported that preventive antibiotics cut infection rates in hand bites from 28% to 2%. Because police dogs are trained to bite and hold, the resulting wounds can be deeper than a typical bite. Anyone treated for a K9 bite should understand the warning signs and care that matter most.

• Early Signs: Redness, swelling, warmth, worsening pain, or drainage in the first day or two can signal infection.
• Hand Injuries: Bites to the hand or wrist can damage tendons, nerves, and joints that are hard to see during an initial exam.
• Wound Cleaning: Thorough irrigation and, when needed, surgical cleaning are key to preventing deep infection.
• Follow-Up Care: People bitten while in custody should receive ongoing wound checks rather than a single evaluation.
• Medical Records: Hospital and jail medical records document the bite, the treatment, and any delays in care.

A K9 bite can lead to lasting harm when an infection is missed or treated late, including lost grip strength and nerve damage. People in custody depend entirely on the agency holding them to recognize when an injury is getting worse. People injured by police dogs have the right to question whether the force was necessary and whether their care met basic standards. When it did not, they may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and lasting injuries.

Investigating Police K9 Attacks in Los Angeles

We at Feher Law wish a full and speedy recovery to Andres Rodriguez. We hope this incident prompts a careful review of how K9 searches are conducted and how bite injuries are treated afterward. This case raises safety concerns about the medical evaluation people receive before they are booked into jail. What should a proper medical check of a police dog bite look like before someone is placed in a cell?

Have you or a loved one been bitten by a police dog in Los Angeles or elsewhere in Los Angeles County? The law limits how officers may use police dogs, and people hurt by excessive force may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption to their daily lives. The police department involved controls the body camera footage, K9 deployment reports, and jail medical records that show what happened. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from bodycam video and handler reports to hospital and jail medical records. If you have legal questions or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.