Thanksgiving Morning Attack by Police Dog Described by Laurel Fire Chief

A Laurel man was attacked by a K9 on Thursday morning, with the dog inflicting fatal blows to his head. The incident occurred on Wyoming Avenue, with the victim identified as Mark Raty. Laurel Fire Chief JW Hopper witnessed the attack, describing it as chaotic and lasting for over 15 minutes. The dog, later identified as a Montana Highway Patrol Belgian Malinois K-9, was not responding to non-lethal measures like a Taser or animal control catch pole. Ultimately, a Laurel police officer had to deliver two fatal blows to the dog’s head to stop the attack, as it was not obeying orders. The officer involved, Baumgartner, received support from Hopper, who described the situation as scary and unusual. The K-9 program supervisor, Sgt. Shad Andersen, emphasized the importance of trained police dogs, but in this case, the K-9 did not obey its handler. Raty’s wife declined to comment, stating they are taking things one day at a time. Overall, the incident was described as unprecedented and alarming by those involved.

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