Davie Cops (Fla.) Turn Police Dog Loose on Latino Man: "he refused to comply with orders"

From [HERE] A South Florida man claims Davie police used excessive force on him when an officer unleashed a police K-9 on him early Wednesday morning. Roger Alvarez, of Miami, said he and his cousin were working on the roof of a restaurant in a strip mall at 6890 Stirling Road. They were on the roof, moving exhaust fans, according to the restaurant's owner.

According to police, a woman living in an adjacent neighborhood thought the two were burglars and called 911. Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle said there has been a rash of business burglaries in the area. At about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday, police arrived at the strip mall. "We formed a perimeter around it," said Engle. "At that time we didn't know if we had a crime in progress."

Alvarez said he saw the officers on the ground and then saw a police officer with his K-9 on the roof. "They say, 'Stop, I'm going to release the dog,'" Alvarez recalled.

Police arrived on the scene with a dog and asked both men to show themselves. Alvarez said he did what he was told. "I got down on my knees, and he kept saying, 'Get down, Imma let the dog loose,' and I'm on my knees now, so I got down flat on my stomach," said Alvarez.

But, at some point, the dog was released and Alvarez was viciously bit. "He put the dog on him, and the dog is tearing his arm, and he is dragging him across the roof," said his co-worker, Ortiz. [MORE]

Engle said he did not comply. "He refused to come out on the commands of the police officers. Unfortunately, he was bitten by the police dog," Engle said.

"The dog just comes and bites me. He pulls it by the leash and he gets him mad, and that's when the dog just clamps his, you know, his canine is on me and starts tearing," said Alvarez. "That's what German Shepherds do. It hurt a lot." Alvarez was not arrested. He was transported to Memorial Hospital Pembroke where he received four stitches to his left arm. Doctors said Alvarez will need surgery. His injuries are serious, as he received muscle and ligament damage.

Alvarez is contemplating hiring an attorney.

"I understand if I was actually committing a burglary, you know what I mean? But I was working," Alvarez said.

Davie police say the incident is still under investigation.