A Tucson police officer’s firearm discharged during a struggle with a suspect who allegedly stabbed a police K-9 named Kora, authorities said.
According to police, the incident began around 5:30 p.m. when a woman called 911 from Rudy Garcia Park, reporting that a man, later identified as 21-year-old Ronald Ray Alvarez Jr., was allegedly chasing her and her son with a knife.
Officers located Alvarez near the Laos Transit Center, about half a mile from the park.
Alvarez fled from officers and was later spotted near South Sixth Avenue and Irvington Road, where K-9 Kora was deployed to assist. Alvarez allegedly stabbed Kora during the encounter. K-9 Kora was taken to a veterinary hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since recovered and returned to duty.
Alvarez fled again, but officers caught up with him near West Oklahoma Street and South Seventh Avenue. Despite officers’ attempts to use less-lethal methods to subdue him, Alvarez allegedly refused to surrender. An officer, identified as Alberto Moreno, a 16-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department, engaged Alvarez in a physical struggle during which Moreno’s firearm discharged into the ground. No one was injured by the gunfire.
Alvarez was eventually taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. A few officers also sustained minor injuries but were not seriously hurt.
Alvarez is being held on a $100,000 bond and faces multiple charges, including resisting arrest, animal cruelty, and attempting to kill or harm a service animal.