A Rock Hill Police K9 officer is recovering at an emergency veterinary hospital after being stabbed multiple times during a violent incident late Thursday night.
Just after 10 p.m. on August 28, officers responded to a home on Martin Avenue after a 56-year-old woman reported that 35-year-old Travonte Tate had chased her with a knife and threatened to kill her. The woman managed to escape and call the police.
When officers arrived, Tate fled on foot. K9 officer Apollo was deployed and successfully apprehended him. However, while Apollo was holding Tate for officers, police say Tate pulled a knife and stabbed the dog several times. An officer was able to wrestle the knife away and restrain Tate.
Tate was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, and unlawful injury to a police animal.
K9 officer Apollo was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where he underwent treatment and was stabilized. He is scheduled for surgery and is expected to recover and return to duty.
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