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June 7th, 2017 
Awake Goy federal appeals court on Tuesday found that San Diego police used reasonable force when they released a dog during a late-night search for a potential burglar in a Pacific Beach office building, resulting in a bite injury to an employee sleeping on her sofa.
In its 10-1 ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals emphasized the right of police officers to protect themselves from a potential threat and how the circumstances at the building the night of Feb. 11, 2010, reasonably suggested a burglary was in progress.
The ruling overturns an opinion reached last year by a three-member panel of the 9th Circuit. It also adds to a growing body of case law pertaining to the use of dogs in police work.
“The court found that the officers acted reasonably, used appropriate force, and were justified in protecting themselves when responding to an uncertain and potentially dangerous situation in a dark office building,” the City Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.
The lawyers representing the bite victim, Sara Lowry, plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This is a very important case in the current state of police relations with the general citizenry and the United States right now, and how police use force,” said Nathan Shaman, one of her San Diego-based attorneys. “We think that the majority definitely got it wrong considering the use of bite-and-hold technique in this case did not violate our client’s rights.”
Lowry, who worked for a data consulting firm, sued the San Diego Police Department alleging the city’s “find-and-bite” dog policy to locate and hold suspects caused an excessive use of force. She did not sue the officers individually.
Lowry had gone out for drinks with friends and returned to her office, where she fell asleep. At one point, she got up to use the restroom in a neighboring office suite and then went back to sleep. Her trip unknowingly set off the building’s alarm around 11 p.m., prompting officers to investigate.
The officers noted a door on a second-floor balcony was ajar and went in suspecting they were dealing with an active burglary. Sgt. Bill Nulton and his dog, Bak, approached the office suite with two other officers. Nulton said he yelled loudly inside, announcing their presence and threatening to send a dog in. When no one answered, Nulton let the dog off-leash to see if a burglar was inside and quickly followed behind.
For the full story visit : http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-policedog-ruling-20170606-story.html
Source Article from http://filmingcops.com/police-dog-bites-sleeping-woman-san-diego-officers-used-reasonable-force-ruling-states/
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