Pit bull attacks sheriff's K9 in Hayward armed suspect standoff, man arrested

HAYWARD, Calif. - An Alameda County Sheriff's Office K9 unit was injured Wednesday after a suspect's pit bull attacked him during an armed standoff between the suspect and deputies. 

Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday responded to a home in Hayward after receiving a call about an armed person causing a disturbance and ended up taking that person into custody in less than four hours. 

Deputies were sent to a home in the 21000 block of Meekland Avenue about 2 a.m. and found a person who appeared to have some sort of weapon, Sgt. Roberto Morales said. The call was regarding a disturbance stemming from court order violation. 

The Sheriff's Office alleges that a man in his thirties brandished a rifle at them, prompting authorities to bring in multiple teams of officers and crisis intervention negotiators to de-escalate the situation.

Deputies were able to remove family members from the residence and warn nearby residents to shelter-in-place.  

While negotiators communicated with the suspect, he allegedly pulled out something that deputies said looked like a stick of dynamite. The Sheriff's Office said the man "issued threats indicating that he had a bomb." 

The sheriff sent in a Bearcat armored vehicle, Morales said. 

Aerial footage from earlier showed a large police presence outside the home near the train tracks.

Negotiators continued to try and get the suspect to comply and peacefully surrender "for hours," but he allegedly refused to turn himself in.  

As the suspect continued to threaten physical harm to deputies and refused to surrender, a gas irritant was deployed.  

As this occurred, a pit bull came out of the yard of the residence and attacked the sheriff's K9 dog "Gambit." Gambit suffered puncture wounds and was bleeding from his back leg. He was taken to a veterinarian and is expected to make a full recovery. 

No other injuries were reported. 

As negotiations continued, the suspect eventually exited the residence to avoid the gas irritant, the Sheriff's Office said. He then allegedly barricaded himself in the side yard, where he was ultimately apprehended and transported to a nearby hospital for medical clearance before being taken to the Santa Rita Jail. 

Morales said the suspect was taken into custody shortly after 9 a.m. 

Deputies have not named the suspect nor any charges he may be facing.  

Bay City News' Katy St. Clair contributed to this report. 

Deputies arrived at a home in the 21000 block of Meekland Avenue and found a person who appeared to have some sort of weapon, the sheriffs office said. Sept. 11, 2024 

Deputies arrived at a home in the 21000 block of Meekland Avenue and found a person who appeared to have some sort of weapon, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies arrived at a home in the 21000 block of Meekland Avenue and found a person who appeared to have some sort of weapon, the sheriff's office said.

KTVU reporter Henry Lee contributed to this report.