(Seguin) — A local officer was allegedly forced to shoot and kill a dog that rushed toward him and other officers during a drug arrest at a local home on Thursday.
John Flores, Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force Lt., says the incident involving suspects, Michelle Galindo, 45 and Vince Ray Riojas, 29, first began during an attempted traffic stop. He says a tip called into the Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers initially led agents to follow the pair of suspected drug dealers.
“The Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force (GCNTF) served a search warrant with the Seguin Police Department C.A.S.E Unit. The search warrant was executed after Vince Riojas, driver) and Michelle Galindo (passenger) evaded in a vehicle from a Seguin PD C.A.S.E. Unit officer attempting to stop them. Riojas and Galindo fled back to the residence in the 200 block of West Ireland Street. GCNTF personnel were on scene to execute the search warrant when Galindo and Riojas arrived back.
As Officer’s initiated efforts to detain Galindo and Riojas, they were encountered by an aggressive Pit Bull Terrier that charged at them. One of the officers fired their service weapon killing the canine,” stated Flores.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 7.7 grams of cocaine and 100.7 grams of methamphetamine. Both face charges of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Riojas faces an additional charge of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Both remain behind bars on a $50,000 bond each.
Flores says the operation was a “direct result of citizen’s complaints and submissions to the Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers anonymous system. Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to anonymously assist local law enforcement in the fight against crime. More information or to submit an anonymous tip can be found at guadalupecountycrimestoppers.org or by calling 1-877-403-8477 (TIPS).