Student bitten by METRO police dog at school

(9/19/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- METRO police officials say they will be disciplining one of their officers, after his K9 partner bit a Madison High School student at school.

Last Thursday, a METRO police officer who works part-time security at Madison High School did something he's never done before. He brought his police dog, Vigo, on campus.

Lt. Herman McClure with the METRO Police Department said, "He had to leave the school and go pick his animal up, brought his animal back to school. School was out so he took the dog out and was walking him around. As we talked to him, he said there were kids on the school grounds playing, jumping around. So the dog just took off. He said it had never done that before."

METRO officials say Officer John Wiggins made the mistake of letting the dog off its leash, something that's only supposed to be done if the dog is in training, in pursuit of a suspect or at home. Vigo is a K9 trained in suspect apprehension.

HISD released a statement Tuesday afternoon.

"A METRO police officer who works part-time at the campus returned to the school with his canine companion to complete some paperwork," said Madison High School Principal Gloria Lexington. "The dog nipped at a student, causing a minor wound."

"The officer understands that, doing that, he used bad judgment and subsequently the dog bit a young lady," Lt. McClure told Eyewitness News. "We hate that it happened. We're glad it wasn't terribly bad, but a bite is a bite."

The student suffered a minor bite wound. The dog was also checked out by a vet and found to be in good health.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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