Officer Charged For Instructing Police Dog To Bite Black Man
A Salt Lake City police officer has been charged with aggravated assault for instructing his police dog to bite a Black man who was already on his knees with his hands in the air.
Officer Nickolas J. Pearce, told the animal to bite Jeffrey Ryans, despite the fact that he was not resisting arrest. The arrest stemmed from a domestic violence call on April 24.
“Get on the ground, or you’re gonna get bit,” officer Nickolas Pearce yelled In the bodycam footage.
Salt Lake City District Attorney Sim Gill (D) told the Tribune that the officer is being charged because the force was not necessary in this incident.
In the bodycam footage Ryans can be heard screaming as he is bitten,
“I’m on the ground. Why are you biting me? I’m on the ground. Stop!” Ryans said.
A second officer then handcuffs him.
“Good boy, good boy,” Officer Pearce said.
“Why are you guys doing this?” Ryans cried out.
The dog continued to bite onto Ryans’s leg before Pearce told him to stop. Ryan’s injuries were examined and he has since had several surgeries, and his doctors told him that his leg risks amputation.
If convicted, Officer Pearce could serve 15 years in jail.