UPDATE: San Francisco police officers shot a man and his dog on October 22, 2023, near Union Square following an alleged dog bite incident. The police department confirmed that officers were flagged down by a victim of a dog bite at approximately 4:27 PM.
According to authorities, the situation escalated when a “large off-leashed dog” attacked the victim unprovoked. Officers responded to the scene at Market and O’Farrell Streets where the dog continued to display aggression towards others in the vicinity. In the course of their attempt to arrest the man and secure the dog, police were forced to use their firearms.
The dog fled the area but returned shortly afterward, where it reportedly bit one of the responding officers. The man shot by police was treated by paramedics on-site and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the officer injured by the dog received treatment for minor wounds.
Animal Care and Control has taken custody of the dog involved in the incident. The initial victim of the dog bite sought medical attention independently.
Several city agencies, including the District Attorney’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department’s investigative division, and the Department of Police Accountability, are now investigating the shooting. As is standard protocol for police shootings in San Francisco, the department will hold a public town hall within the next ten days to provide further information.
This incident raises pressing questions about public safety and animal control in urban areas, as authorities navigate the complexities of animal behavior and law enforcement responses. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
For those in San Francisco and beyond, the implications of this event resonate deeply, reminding communities of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and animal control agencies.
