An Orlando K-9 police officer knocked a biker to the ground and allowed a police dog to maul the innocent teenager, who the cop had mistaken for a suspect.
A year later, the victim, 19-year-old Isaiah Montanez, is suing the Orlando Police Department for his treatment at the hands of Officer James Parker.
Montanez was biking home on Easter Sunday in 2013 when a cop pulled him off his bicycle. The officer later claimed in a report that Montanez had ignored orders to stop. Parker believed Montanez was a robber suspect, according to WESH.com.
Once Montanez was on the ground, the officer’s K-9 dog attacked him. He received several bites.
“There was no warning — didn’t ask him to stop or anything of that nature,” said Bradley Laurent, Montanez’s lawyer, in a statement. “He hit the ground and the dog attacked him.”
Luarent said Montanez looked nothing like the suspect, although Parker said it was dark outside when the incident occurred.
After being viciously mauled by the dog, Montanez was arrested and charged with resisting arrest. The district attorney declined to prosecute, however, and the charge was dropped.
The department will not comment on pending litigation.