Pensacola police K-9 wrestles loaded shotgun away from suspect

From staff reports | Pensacola News Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption WATCH: Pensacola police K-9 wrestles away shotgun from suspect A Pensacola police K-9 named Foster managed to wrestle a shotgun from a suspect and carry it in his mouth into another room.

Bet you wish you could train your dog to do this.

Early Thursday, a Pensacola Police Department K-9 diffused a potentially deadly confrontation and likely saved lives by snatching a loaded shotgun out of the hands of an armed suspect.

The incident occurred around midnight Thursday in the 100 block of North K Street, when 36-year-old Oliver Hurst allegedly went across the street to a girlfriend’s house and forced his way inside the front door while armed with a shotgun.

He threatened the woman with the gun before retreating back to his residence, according to a PPD news release.

When police officers arrived on scene, they observed Hurst on his front porch. Hurst allegedly refused orders from officers to surrender, and he ran inside his house.

Officers pursued Hurst into the home and observed him grab the shotgun from a couch.

K-9 Foster, an 18-month-old German Shepherd, latched onto the shotgun and pulled it from Hurst's hands, the report said.

Officers deployed a Taser on Hurst, who was then taken into custody as K-9 Foster took the weapon away from the area and into another room where it was seized by officers.

Because of the quick actions of K-9 Foster, the suspect was not able to fire the shotgun at police, and the officers did not have to use deadly force on Hurst, according to the police.

Hurst was taken into custody and charged with armed burglary, aggravated assault, battery, criminal mischief and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

According to the PPD, K-9 Foster and K-9 Nashoba were both purchased from generous donations made by Pensacola residents Dana and Lisa Foster.

A Facebook post by the PPD showed body camera footage from the incident and noted that Hurst is believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.

It also aptly described K-9 Foster as the "goodest boy."