January 8, 2016 - Stanislaus County Sheriff Canine Rocky was injured early this morning after being stabbed during an altercation with a violent suspect. At approximately 3:41 AM, Deputies were dispatched to the Quick Stop market located at 1501 Paradise Road in Modesto for a suspicious person.
The clerk called 911 reporting a suspicious male, later identified as Wesley Brackney, 53 of Modesto, loitering in front of the store. The clerk told dispatchers he thought Brackney was going to rob the store.
When deputies arrived they found Brackney outside the store. Before deputies had a chance to talk to Brackney, he provoked an immediate confrontation with the deputies and refused to comply with lawful orders. Brackney was aggressive and verbally threatened the deputies. Instead of getting into a physical fight with Brackney, Canine Deputy Wade Carr chose to deploy his partner Rocky in an attempt to apprehend Brackney. Brackney had multiple opportunities to surrender prior to Rocky being used to take Brackney into custody.
As Rocky moved in, Brackney took a concealed knife from his pocket and started to stab the dog. As Rocky was being attacked, deputies moved in and were able to take the knife away from Brackney. Additional deputies responded and were able to take Brackney into custody. Rocky sustained four different stab wounds, one to the head, two to the neck and one to the back. All four stab wounds were non-life-threatening, but did require veterinary medical care including stitches to close the open wounds.
"I'm very proud of the restraint Deputy Carr and Deputy Martinez demonstrated during this armed confrontation", said Sheriff Adam Christianson. "Deputy Carr's canine partner was under attack and being actively stabbed. Deputy Carr certainly had justification to use deadly force in this confrontation to save his partners life, but chose to physically engage Brackney to stop the assault, placing himself at great risk." Both deputies were uninjured as a result of this violent confrontation. Rocky, who is a five-year-old male Belgian Malinois, is expected to make a full recovery. Rocky has served with the Sheriff's Office for two years.
Brackney was arrested on multiple charges including an outstanding warrant for narcotics, assault on a police canine, and assault on a peace officer. After his arrest, Brackney told deputies it was his intention to provoke them into a confrontation so they would shoot him. Brackney has a long-standing criminal history including narcotics related offenses and other felony criminal conduct and behavior. He is a registered narcotics offender and is on probation.
Law enforcement canines are often used to find and apprehend suspects, reducing the risk of injury or death to an officer. The dogs are an effective deterrent and most people surrender in the presence of a police canine. They also serve as a law-enforcement officer's loyal partner and are part of that officer's family. Any attack on an animal used in law-enforcement such as police canines and horses, is a felony.
Rocky at home recovering.
Source: Stanislaus County Sheriff Department
