Police K9 Turns On Officer In Violent Bite Attack During Jonesboro Search Operation

A police search following a vehicle pursuit ended with a suspect’s arrest and a separate incident in which a police K9 attacked an officer, leaving him injured during a Sunday morning operation.

At 8:17 a.m., an officer with the Jonesboro Police Department attempted a traffic stop on South Culberhouse. The driver accelerated away from the stop and fled the scene.

During the pursuit, the vehicle ran a stop sign without slowing for oncoming traffic and committed additional violations observed by the officer.

The vehicle was later linked to a residence on Nisbett Street. Officers responded to that location to gather further information about the occupants.

While arriving on the street, officers located the vehicle parked in a gravel lot behind an apartment building. Additional units secured the area.

The driver, identified as Jerry Cornealious Brown, was seen fleeing on foot by witnesses. He was located shortly afterward, complied with verbal commands, and was arrested at the scene.

Brown faces charges including fleeing, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license, failure to appear, an out-of-town warrant, and reckless driving.

Following the arrest, officers conducted a search in the surrounding area. During that search, K9 Rocky climbed over a fence.

As Officer Zach Hobbs attempted to retrieve the dog, the K9 became injured during the maneuver and then bit the officer multiple times.

An ASP Trooper assisted in restraining the animal. Officer Hobbs suffered bites to both arms and his upper right thigh and later received hospital treatment.

Later that morning, officials confirmed that Officer Hobbs and K9 Rocky were reunited.