One of three gang members arrested Monday punched a Sandy Springs police K9 with a set of spiked brass knuckles, police said.
Jonathan Wimbs, 25, of Atlanta, Aron Davis, 24, of Lithonia, and a 14-year-old boy were arrested after allegedly breaking into a car.
The two adults are Rollin 60 Crips gang members.
Sandy Springs K9 Unit officer James Reynnells and K9 Django tracked Wimbs to a wooded area. The trail went cold, but because the officers knew the direction Wimbs traveled, Officer Michael DeWald was able to set up a perimeter and release his dog, Rock, to search for the scent, DeWald said.
Rock sniffed out the subject, who was hiding in a drainage system ditch that dropped about eight feet down, DeWald said.
When Rock bit into Wimbs’ left arm, Wimbs pulled a set of spiked brass knuckles and punched Rock about six times.
Thought the dog let go after being punched repeatedly, Rock chased Wimbs, biting his leg to bring him down to the ground where DeWald arrested him.
Rock, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, and DeWald have been partners since 2009.