DeKalb County Sheriff’s K9 deputy dies in pursuit of rape suspect

A member of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s K9 Unit has died in the line of duty. Investigators in the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a rape suspect today(Aug. 4)when a K9 Deputy Sheriff escaped his partner’s control inside the Atlanta apartment complex where the endeavor was being made.

“The K9 Deputy lost sight of the suspect and came upon a plain clothes sheriff’s office investigator involved in the pursuit,” said Chief Deputy Randy Akies.  “When the K9 Deputy advanced aggressively, the investigator fired in self-defense and, unfortunately, the K9 died on the scene as a result of the injuries.”

The suspect remains at large.