Sheriff’s office K9 ‘accidentally’ bites teacher after cruiser door opened, deputy says

A teacher at Imagine Schools was bitten by a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office K9 on Wednesday after the K9 was “accidentally” released from the marked cruiser.

The deputy in charge of the K9, whose name is not being released pending an internal investigation, was on his way to work and dropping his son off at Imagination Charter School in Palmetto when the back door of his vehicle was opened by a school staff member, according to the sheriff’s office.

The vehicle was marked as a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office K9 cruiser, the sheriff’s office noted.

The deputy told the sheriff’s office the staff member opened the rear door “before either realized what was happening,” and “accidentally” released the K9.

Randy Warren, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said the K9 got out and bit a teacher who was nearby.

As a precaution, the teacher was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital to be treated for two punctures to his abdomen, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rhonda Cagle, a spokeswoman for Imagine Schools, said staff stationed in the drop-off line, opening car doors and helping students out of vehicles is “standard practice” at the school to keep the line moving.

Cagle said the teacher was not seriously injured and his full recovery is expected. No other students or staff were involved in the incident.

She said the sheriff’s office response to the incident was “prompt” and “professional.”

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

This story was originally published November 14, 2018 at 1:12 PM.