CA Parolee Allegedly Chokes Police K-9 While Being Arrested

GLENDALE, CA — A 29-year-old parolee who was being apprehended as a burglary suspect is in custody Saturday after he allegedly tried to strangle a police K-9 in Glendale. The dog is expected to recover.

Officers from the Glendale Police Department's Special Enforcement Detail spotted Rodrigo Calderon about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday allegedly looking into windows of vehicles parked in the motel parking lot in the 1500 block of East Colorado Street. An employee of the motel also reported that the suspect had entered a restricted area.

"A subsequent search of Calderon produced pepper spray and magnets," according to a news statement. "Officers also discovered Calderon potentially had a no-bail parole warrant and a separate $500,000 warrant out for his arrest."

Calderon then allegedly took off on foot, running toward Colorado Street, while officers were confirming his identity. Officers chased him into a home in the 1500 block of Orange Grove, which was evacuated.

He refused to leave the residence after several announcements were made by police to come out, and officers eventually released a K-9 into the residence.

"Officers observed the K-9 enter a room at the location, then heard barking and yelling," according to the news statement. "Officers entered the room and saw that Calderon was on top of the K-9 with his arm around the K-9's neck, actively strangling the dog."

A taser was subsequently used against the suspect and Calderon was taken into custody and booked into the Glendale Police Department Jail, after receiving medical treatment.

The dog, named Coda, appeared to be in good health and was expected to recover following the incident, the department reported.

Calderon was arrested on suspicion of burglary and obstruction, along with two outstanding warrants and a parole violation.

Police also found out that Calderon had booked a room at a nearby hotel with another person. Officers did an compliance at the room and located Isaiah Miller, a 23-year transient, inside the location.

A search of the room turned up four small plastic bindles of methamphetamine, a glass pipe, a large amount of cash in various denominations and two bank cards in other people's names. Miller was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and identity theft.

—City News Service