POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County Sheriff’s Office K9 is recovering after being stabbed multiple times while apprehending a suspect on Thursday evening.
Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in Davenport around 6:30 PM, where a suspect, 23-year-old Kelsey Boyce, had allegedly struck a victim and threatened him with a knife. Boyce then fled into a wooded area, still armed with the knife.
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Multiple units, including a helicopter, Davenport police, Haines City police, and K9 Reno with his handler, Deputy Sheriff Giles, assisted in the search. After locating Boyce, deputies gave him several opportunities to surrender, but he refused.
K9 Reno and Deputy Giles were then deployed to apprehend Boyce. During the apprehension, Boyce stabbed Reno multiple times in the head. Despite his injuries, Reno persevered and, with Deputy Giles, successfully took Boyce into custody.
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Reno was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment of four stab wounds to his head. Fortunately, the injuries were superficial, and Reno has been cleared by veterinarians and is doing well.
Boyce is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault, battery, resisting arrest, and battery on a police K9.
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