Police Dog Bites Handcuffed Suspect

A police dog bit a 27-year-old El Cajon man on his neck and ear Monday as he lay handcuffed on the ground, officials said.

The incident began shortly after midnight when El Cajon Police Officers Steve Van Slyke and Tom Lloyd, responding to a complaint of loud music, arrived at an apartment complex on the 300 block of South Lincoln Avenue, police said. Upon their arrival, police officers heard glass breaking across the street.

The officers reportedly spotted a man identified as Douglas Clayton Meserole, a therapist, hiding behind a telephone pole, police said. Lloyd retrieved his dog as Van Slyke shone his flashlight on Meserole.

Meserole cursed at Van Slyke and charged across the street and kicked at him, police said. Lloyd ordered Meserole to stop and sent his dog to protect Van Slyke.

Meserole reportedly grabbed and then punched the dog several times, before the animal bit his arm and leg, police said. Meserole was then taken into police custody.

But as Meserole lay handcuffed on the ground, he was attacked by another police dog and was bitten on the back of his neck and his left ear, police said. He was taken to Grossmont Hospital, where he was treated for dog bite wounds and was listed in good condition Monday evening.

El Cajon police are investigating.