GIFFORD — A 19-year-old has been arrested, accused of injuring a K-9 as he tried to allegedly flee from Indian River County Sheriff’s deputies.
According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, Andrew Coffee IV, 19, of Vero Beach, was arrested early this morning, June 3, after he fled the scene of a shots fired call for service.
At approximately 3 a.m., deputies were responding to the 3800 block of 44th Manor in reference to a report of shots being fired. Lieutenant Kent Campbell arrived in the scene and observed a black Crown Victoria leaving the area at a high rate of speed and without the headlights on.
The driver, according to authorities, later identified as Coffee, made a few turns in the neighborhood and abandoned the car in a cul-de-sac at the end of 48th Street (approximately the 4100 block). Coffee then fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.
K-9 Deputy Christian Mathisen and his partner, Marco, apprehended Coffee a few minutes later in the back of a home near the area where the car had been left. Coffee resisted arrest and struck K-9 Marco in the face causing a small laceration near his eye. Coffee was bitten by Marco while he was attempting to strike the dog and resisted the deputies attempting to handcuff him, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities stated a shotgun was found near the car Coffee was driving and the shells in the gun matched those found at the scene of the original shots fired call for service on 44th Manor.
Coffee was eventually arrested, taken to the emergency room to be treated for the dog bite, and then booked into the Indian River County Jail. He faces charges of battery on a police dog, felony flee and elude, and resisting arrest without violence. He was released today after posting a $31,000 bond.
Marco’s injury was treated by Deputy Mathisen and both are back on duty.
Marco is a 3-year-old German shepherd who has been on duty with the Sheriff’s Office for about one year. His handler, Deputy Mathisen has been a law enforcement officer for over 13 years and a K-9 handler for nine years.
