A Naugatuck man got into a fight with the Seymour police dog and an officer Thursday night, police said. All three were injured.
Christopher Norton, 36, was arraigned Monday afternoon on charges of injury to a police animal, assault on a police officer, interfering with an officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia and narcotics.
Norton was held in custody all weekend after the incident, and was brought to court Monday still wearing bandages covering all of his head and some of his face.
Police said the police dog, Raider, and his handler, Officer Donald Scheithe, each received minor injuries during the fight, which happened at about 9 p.m. on Thursday.
That’s when Seymour police found Norton and a female parked on Bissell Place in Seymour, according to police spokesman Lt. Paul Satkowski.
The woman in the car needed medical attention for an unspecified problem. Police officers called for an ambulance. While they waited, Norton allegedly tried to get in the way of their investigation, Satkowski said.
“He was told several times to get away and back off. He refused to comply,” Satkowski said. “He became hostile and combative toward the officers. He was given several more commands to comply with requests, and refused.”
At that point, Officer Scheithe instructed Raider to “apprehend” Norton.
“When the dog approaches Mr. Norton, he takes it upon himself to assault the canine,” Satkowski said. “He begins to punch the canine several times in the head and throughout the body.”
Satkowski said Scheithe intervened to prevent Raider from getting more seriously injured. Together, they were able to get Norton in custody, Satkowski said.
Scheithe and Norton were transported to Griffin Hospital to be evaluated. Another officer at the scene suffered minor injuries during the arrest as well, Satkowski said.
“As you can tell, this involved drinking,” public defender Bruce Weiant said Monday during Norton’s arraignment at Superior Court in Derby. “He certainly paid the price as to what happened because of the dog.”
Norton has several past convictions, including four counts of cruelty to animals from an incident in April 2010. His other convictions include charges of assault, threatening, operating under the influence and violation of probation.
Judge Richard Arnold Monday lowered Norton’s bond from $50,000 to $25,000 and scheduled his next court date for March 9.
Other Injuries
Satkowski said the incident was one of two in which Seymour police officers were injured this past week.
On Friday morning, two police officers assisting Birmingham Group on a call in Seymour were confronted by a male homeowner there. The man got into a “pushing and shoving match” with one of the officers, Satkowski said.
When more officers responded to the home, the man continued to fight with police, Satkowski said.
Two officers were injured during the altercation. Satkowski said he couldn’t give specifics on the injuries, but described them as “minor.” One of the officers has been out since the incident. The other is expected to return to work Tuesday, Satkowski said.
Police are investigating the incident and Satkowski said they plan to make an arrest.
“Needless to say, it was a busy 12 to 16 hours for the Seymour Police Department,” Satkowski said, referring also to a home invasion that occurred at 5 a.m. Friday.
