A Little Rock police officer chasing a purported shoplifter accidentally fired his gun Tuesday morning when a police dog attacked him.
Officers followed to Second and Rock streets a person who was suspected of shoplifting at the Home Depot store at 12610 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock Police Department spokesman Sgt. Cassandra Davis said in an email.
The person was hiding between cars in downtown Little Rock when officers released a police dog to chase the person, Davis said. At the same time, the suspected shoplifter attempted to climb a tree, police said.
The police dog circled the vehicles where the person had been hiding and approached an officer, Davis said. The officer had his gun pointed at the suspected shoplifter and accidentally discharged it while trying to fight off the dog, according to Davis.
No one was hit by the bullet from the officer's gun, Davis said.
The dog bit the officer in the thigh, and that officer was taken to Baptist Health Medical Center for treatment.
Davis said the agency would release more information when the police report is complete.