No Matt, it didn't seem anything, it was real. The headcam footage of the suspect killing the dog and officer being stabbed in the face will be released. You'll eat your nasty and snarky words.

Matt - are you seriously defending a thief who stabbed and killed a dog? Honestly? What kind of psycho stabs and kills a dog? That's worse than stabbing a human (but then again, I like dogs way more than humans). What makes you want to defend every psycho homeless drug abuser in Seattle?

@3, you, or anyone else, would try to stab and kill a dog if it was viciously attacking you. It’s called “survival instinct.”

Wow people really hate it when old ugly assed neon things get taken down in this town

The lesson to be learned is don't run away from the police. And don't stab their dog. Why did he have a knife on him? I guess at least it wasn't a gun. I would hope the police would be better able to disable the suspect, like shoot him in the knee or shoulder or something, rather than a kill shot. Police need better training on the use of non-lethal force.

The cognitive dissonance of TS writers and posters on this board on anything related to the police is truly amazing to read on a daily basis. I'd ask why the suspect was trying to break into a home armed with a knife and a machete that led to the homeowner calling the police to begin with but I'm sure you would all just tell me it was crime of poverty and that the homeowner is a NIMBY who has a bias against machete wielding, dog killers.

@9: When the suspect stabs someone in the face, an immediate kill shot is as appropriate as a floral centerpiece.

I know this is probably not as controversial as the police but while Matt is droning on about the SCC transportation committee this is a good time to mention that Councilmember Lewis is going to hold a lot of sway in the upcoming session. If you look at the committees there are 3 big ones where it would appear he holds the swing vote. The budget committee and public safety committee both have Mosqueda/Herbold and Peterson/Nelson who are likely to vote in a bloc and then the renters rights committee has a Sawant/Morales and Nelson/Juarez split. There are fairly large issues that will be decided in those committees (rent control, continued reallocation of public safety budgets, police accountability legislation) and Lewis appears to hold the keys. If one had any journalistic instincts they may reach out to him for an interview to see where he stands on some of those key issues.

@4 Do you regularly carry a knife with you to stab dogs? Do most people? Psycho.

@6 you're kinda special aren't you? And not in the good way.

@16 At least I'm amusing rather than preachy and sanctimonious. Thanks babe.

People who blindly defend the actions of those in power risk becoming accomplices to abusers.

Wow, Matt, you've outdone yourself here -- but you can do even better!

"Police were called to what they claim was a home break-in". You think they made the whole thing up, just so they could charge up the hill, pick somebody out, struggle with him and shoot him? Then spell it out:

"People who claim they are the Police claim they were called to what they claim was a home break-in, and claim they saw what they claim was a man they claim they believed to be responsible running away from what they claim was the scene. ... etc ... etc."

If you know up from down, you know cops don't always tell the truth. But if you assume (and without plausible alternative explanation) that everything is a lie, you are simply lost in your own reality-shifting brain fog.

@12 agree. @15, disagree, and I'm usually one of the first to play the F-card with regards to the police. I am almost 100% anti-cop, but I am very pro self defense.

I will be happy to admit I'm wrong if it turns out this is more lying from the police. And I don't think burglary should be a death sentence. I don't think running from police should be a death sentence.

But once you start attacking someone, all bets are off. I would hope every citizen would defend themselves and their pets as best as they can from some violent nutjob.

Matt, it's okay to condemn condemnable people from time to time. It doesn't ruin your progressive street cred.

Are not police dogs trained to bite and restrain, but not to kill? Sure, it can be a minor detail when you're on the receiving end. Nevertheless, most bury their head in the ground and yell to stop. Within seconds it's typically over. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy was on PCP.

" how much of this story do you believe?"

Well, in light of the fact that a K9 was stabbed to death and an officer stabbed in the face, I believe the suspect was indeed carrying a knife, and intended to do harm. Was there some uncertainty about this aspect of the story?

@23: The the last paragraph of @20 also applies to you.

@25: Awesome first and last paragraphs, but not the middle.

@32 By "toxic" you mean "counter to my preferences", right?

@33: Sure, but you wouldn't quibble about the use of the adjective by Matt Baume or any other staffer.

"At least I'm amusing"

You greatly over estimate your talent.

"not to investigate or prosecute anyone, ... that investigation is still plugging along"
So they're not investigating anyone or anything but their investigation continues? Do any of you ever proofread? This isn't your diary, it's journalism.

The police didn't "claim" that it was a break-in, the story that you link to clearly says that someone called 911 saying that a man with a knife was breaking into their home. They were responding to what they were told was a break-in.

Which brings up the idea that maybe K9 units shouldn't be released on suspects the police have been told have weapons.

@36: I stand corrected - Gonzalez was indeed toxic. We all recall she had to apologize for playing a convoluted sexual harassment card in the campaign by blaming Harrell for giving former mayor Murray respectful comments during the scandal.

I hope the SPD never releases a statement like “We always lie”, as the exploding heads at The Stranger would be very messy.

I would agree Gonzales style of leadership was toxic. She was very much in the same vein as Murray who had a reputation of holding grudges and seeking retribution on people who opposd his policies. I think that unfortunately seems to be a fairly common trait for career politicians who have an eye on bigger office as Lorena definitely did.

I do think it’s interesting as well Mosqueda withdrew from consideration for council president. As Budget chair she would have had an inside track. I wonder if she saw how the president title hurt Gonzales more than helped and passed on it so as not to damage her future aspirations? I think Juarez will be a good president as she clearly won’t be looking to promote herself for a future run at something else. In fact she prob will retire in 2023.

The death of the dog is regrettable, but dogs are expendable. Police are not. And if you're trying to stab a cop in the face with a knife, don't be surprised when you're killed by a cop.

@45 Look, nobody is happy about the death of the brave dog. He did his job and was probably a boon companion to the K9 cop. But he did his job, and his handler is alive because of it. That's why he was there.

Fuck this "brave dog" shit. If the dog was a victim of anyone, it was the police. Who says they have to weaponize dogs and horses? Just be your usual cowardly cop selves and shoot people instead of using animals to maul and stomp. After all, it's been shown again and again you can get away with straight-up murder. All you have to say is "I was a-scared!"

@50: Be careful what you wish for, you of all people should realize that. Ultra-fast police robot assistants with precision take downs coming soon!

Oh, for fuck's sake: "Police — currently the sole source of information about the incident"? That's what cops do. The press is supposed to inform the public of the counter narrative, exactly what The Stranger has been failing to do for well over a year -- complete abandonment of of journalistic ethics. Here is what The Stranger does: waits for official state news sources (Seattle Times) to report the official findings of state agencies (OPA, OIG, & CPC). Here is what The Stranger doesn't do: any investigative work on police accountability or even report on others independent investigations, like, for example, the 17 stories during 2021 from Carolyn Bick at the South Seattle Emerald: https://hjgale.tumblr.com/post/668337923167485952/2021-articles-by-carolyn-bick-on-the-failures-of

I think Matt Baume should be required to sit quietly and watch the body-worn camera video of this dog's murder on a loop for a good eight hours or so. Say what you will about SPD and use of force issues over the years, but in this instance, they should have fired on that suspect before the dog was even released.

https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2022/01/05/police-shoot-burglary-suspect-after-he-fatally-stabs-k9-dog-injures-officer/