INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A now-20-year-old man has been found guilty of various charges, including injuring a Sheriff’s K-9 while trying to flee an arrest back in June 2013.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office released today that Andrew Coffee IV, of Gifford, was found guilty in court on Tuesday, Nov. 18, on three charges. Those charges included battery on a police dog, felony flee and elude, and resisting arrest without violence, while Coffee was 19 years old.
“We are proud of the work of our canine teams that patrol our streets every night and day, keeping our community safe,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar in a prepared statement. “This case is an excellent example to those who think they can strike a police dog. We will not tolerate fleeing felons who attempt to injure our well trained canine partners.”
In June 2013, authorities say Coffee fled from authorities who were investigating a shots fired call. Coffee left the scene at a high rate of speed, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Coffee abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area, where Sheriff’s Deputy Christian Mathisen and his canine partner Marco located him near a home.
Coffee struck K-9 Marco in the face causing a laceration to his eye and continued to strike at the dog as Deputy Mathisen placed him in handcuffs, according to authorities.
During the course of the investigation, authorities found a shotgun near the area where Coffee abandoned his vehicle.
Coffee was arrested that night and was later released on $31,000 bond while waiting trial.
On Tuesday, Coffee was found guilty of all three charges after more than five hours of testimony, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was taken into custody after the verdict was read and is being held in the Indian River County Jail until his sentencing in early December.
For the charges of resisting arrest without violence and battery on a police dog, Coffee faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for each offense. For the charge of felony flee and elude, Coffee faces up to five years in prison with a fine of up to $5,000.
