Man bit by deputy’s police dog
Friday, March 23rd, 2007Tavares — A Lake County deputy sheriff is being questioned after his trained law-enforcement dog chased and bit a Umatilla man while off-duty, authorities said Tuesday.
Deputy Brad Bowlin was at home Friday when his girlfriend, Lake Deputy Jodi Lockwood, let the dog outside without a leash on, officials said. Filip, the German shepherd, barked at two men walking near the house when one of the men started running away, according to a Lake sheriff’s report. The dog chased and bit William Jernigan, 21, on the forearm, causing a puncture wound, the report said.
Bowlin took him to the emergency room at Florida Hospital Waterman.
Sgt. Christie Mysinger, a Lake sheriff’s spokeswoman, said the incident is under investigation. Ultimately, the responsibility for the dog lies with its handler, Mysinger said.
“You have to maintain control of the dog,” she said.
The dog and deputy are back at work.
Mysinger said the deputy offered to pay Jernigan for missing a day of work because of the bite.
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