Tuscon officers gun discharges during struggle with suspect after he stabbed K9 Kora
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0:00 - Intro
0:34 - 911 call
2:23 - Bodycam 1
3:46 - Bodycam 2
4:17 - Surveillance video
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The Tucson Police Department said it started around 5:30 p.m. when a woman called 911 from Rudy Garcia Park. She said a man, later identified as 21-year-old Ronald Ray Alvarez Jr., was chasing her and her son with a knife.
As officers were talking with the victim, Alvarez was spotted near the Laos Transit Center, which is less than a half mile from the park.
Alvarez then ran from officers and was spotted again near South Sixth and Irvington.
The TPD said that is when K-9 Kora was deployed. Alvarez then stabbed Kora, who was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. She has since returned to work and is doing fine.
Alvarez ran again, and officers caught up with him near West Oklahoma Street and South Seventh Avenue.
The TPD said officers tried to get him to surrender, but he refused, so they attempted to use less-lethal methods.
It did not work, so an officer had to catch up with Alvarez. During that struggle, the officer’s firearm was discharged into the ground. The TPD said no one was injured.
The officer has been identified as Alberto Moreno, a 16-year veteran of the TPD.
Alvarez was finally taken into custody and transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The TPD said a few officers suffered minor injuries but nothing serious.
Alvarez is being held on a $100,000 bond and is facing charges of resisting arrest, animal cruelty, and attempt to kill/harm a service animal.
No community members were injured, according to the TPD.