PHOENIX — A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection to the death of Phoenix police K9 Bane.
Jairo Adair Contreras Quintero led police on a long pursuit, carjacking several people and eventually barricading himself in a home near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road in 2018, ABC15 reported.
During the barricade, K9 Bane was deployed in attempt to take the desperate suspect into custody.
However, while inside the home, Bane was heard breathing irregularly. As a result, his handler attempted to call him back, but the police service dog did not respond and exit the home.
When police eventually took the suspect into custody, he reportedly had injuries consistent with dog bites. Moreover, court paperwork indicates that officers found K9 Bane inside a cabinet unresponsive.
The suspect reportedly had his body up against the door to the cabinet when police found him.
In 2018, Quintero was booked on an outstanding warrant for theft of a motor vehicle, trespassing, armed robbery, weapons violations, killing a service animal, animal cruelty unlawful flight and burglary.
Quintero was sentenced to slightly more than 25 years in prison Thursday, ABC15 reported.
Phoenix Police Department said the cause of death of K9 Bane was determined to be asphyxiation.
