(KRON) — The Metropolis of San Jose and the San Jose Police Division are going through a lawsuit after a police canine viciously attacked a person in his condo, video exhibits. The person misplaced half of his ear and suffered wounds to his face, arms and neck.
The person attacked, Fernando Villanueva-Galvez, was 19 years outdated on the time. Lawyer Angel Alexander described him as a “small guy, quiet young man.”
Confrontation at laundry room
Police have been referred to as to the Unity Care flats at 923 Northrup St. on Oct. 1, 2023 after an altercation on the advanced’s laundry room, the lawsuit says.
In line with Alexander, Villanueva-Galvez had been harassed quite a few occasions by one other tenant on the advanced and her boyfriend. The pair had taken his garments out of the washer and thrown them on the ground a number of occasions. He didn’t need to confront them because the boyfriend was recognized to have a gun, the swimsuit mentioned.
Villanueva-Galvez was once more accosted by the tenant and her boyfriend on the evening in query, and when he later returned to the room to get his laundry, he introduced a knife, Alexander mentioned. The pair bodily assaulted him, and Villanueva-Galvez took out the knife. The altercation ended with the girl receiving a puncture wound. Alexander described it as superficial and mentioned she declined medical consideration.
Police arrive, Villanueva-Galvez attacked
Villanueva-Galvez then went again into his unit and fell asleep, Alexander mentioned. Police have been referred to as to the scene and waited exterior Villanueva-Galvez’s condo.
The officers made instructions over a automobile PA system, however Villanueva-Galvez by no means wakened, Alexander mentioned. The lawsuit claims SJPD by no means acknowledged Villanueva-Galvez’s identify.
After 4 hours, officers used a battering ram to open Villanueva-Galvez’s door and despatched within the K9 named Ronin.
“The next thing he knows, he was woken up by a dog chewing on his face,” Alexander mentioned.
The officer made 5 instructions for the canine to get off Villanueva-Galvez, nevertheless it continued to chunk him throughout his physique, Alexander mentioned. Officers lastly entered the condo after listening to the person scream.
The lawsuit claims the officers allowed the assault to proceed for greater than a minute, and the canine didn’t observe his handler’s instructions to get off him. The video exhibits Villanueva-Galvez bleeding closely from his face.
Lawsuit filed after Sunnyvale teenager killed by police
“The animal was so bloodthirsty. His animalistic instincts had kicked in. My client was prey at this point. This animal was completely out of control,” Alexander mentioned.
Villanueva-Galvez was hospitalized after the assault. He’s now lacking half of his ear, has partial imaginative and prescient and listening to loss, and misplaced power in his arm, which impacts his occupation as a farmworker.
KRON4 acquired grotesque photographs displaying the injuries Villanueva-Galvez suffered within the assault, however we’re selecting to not present them. A closely edited model of the video displaying the assault is included above.
Villanueva-Galvez returned to work not lengthy after the assault for monetary causes, Alexander mentioned.
The San Jose Police Division didn’t reply to a KRON4 inquiry relating to the incident and the lawsuit.
