Dog Shot, Killed in Fairfield During Standoff in Fairfield

By Bay City News Service
  
A Fairfield man was arrested and his was dog shot and killed Friday after he allegedly tried to use the animal to hold off police in a standoff, a police sergeant said.

Matthew Morton, 51, was found hiding in an outbuilding on his ex-wife's property on the 300 block of Gregory Street after she called to report that he was violating a restraining order, according to Sgt. Randy Boggs.

Morton has a history of violent behavior and has been arrested for violating the restraining order in the past, Boggs said.

Morton was found hiding with his dog, a pit bull that had once attacked and injured the victim in the past, Boggs said.

When officers located him he allegedly refused to surrender and used the dog to hold them at bay for 45 minutes, Boggs said.

Officers eventually used pepper spray and then a stun gun to detain him, but during the struggle the dog attempted to attack an officer and was shot, Boggs said.

Animal control services took the dog in for treatment, but it later died of its injuries, Boggs said.

Morton was treated for minor injuries before being arrested on suspicion of violating a restraining order, resisting arrest and using his dog as a means of resisting arrest.

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