Troopers: Man shoots police dog, is wounded by officers’ return fire

A man who allegedly shot and killed a police dog was wounded by the return fire of law enforcement personnel Sunday morning after a vehicle pursuit that started in Palmer, according to an online dispatch posted by Alaska State Troopers just before noon Sunday.

The shooting occurred near the Glenn/Parks highway interchange, and involved both troopers and Palmer police.

According to troopers, Armando Abarca, whose age and hometown were not immediately available, was taken to the hospital with a non-life threatening injury to his shoulder.

The dog later died after being taken to a local veterinarian.

Below is the full text of the report. This is a developing story, check back for updates:

On 9/25/2016, at approximately 0520 hours, a Palmer Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a 4 door Geo sedan with 4 occupants in the city limits of Palmer. As the vehicle began traveling southbound on the Glenn Highway, Palmer Police Department requested the assistance of the Alaska State Troopers. The suspect vehicle eluded police for several miles until it pulled into a driveway, near the Glenn Highway/Parks Highway interchange. The suspect vehicle drove a couple hundred yards down the driveway, and the driver exited and ran into the woods. A Palmer Policer Officer and an Alaska State Trooper with a K9 pursued the suspect into the woods. The driver, identified as Armando Abarca, fired multiple rounds striking the AST K9. Both officers fired back striking Armando Abarca once in the shoulder. Abarca was transported to a Hospital with a non-life threatening injury. The AST K9 was transported to a local veterinarian in critical condition. At 0932 hours the AST K9 died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The AST Alaska Bureau of Investigation has responded to the scene, and is conducting the scene investigation. The officer’s names will not be released for 72 hours per PPD and DPS department policy. Abarca is being charged with Assault in the Third Degree (two counts), Harming a Police Dog in the First Degree, Eluding Police, and was remanded on an outstanding $20,000 arrest warrant (PACE warrant for Burglary 2).