MAN, 8-YEAR-OLD BOY INJURED AS SHOTS FIRED IN DRUG RAID

Metro SWAT officers fired on two dogs charging at police during a drug raid
in Woodbine last night, killing both canines and injuring a man and an
8-year-old boy in the process.

Police said Joseph Lane, 25, was shot in the leg, and they weren't sure
whether Ronald Lee Mealer Jr., 8, were grazed by a bullet or injured in
some other way.

Both were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with
non-life-threatening injuries, Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said.

At no time, Aaron said, did SWAT officers fire directly at anyone at the
house at 217 Chilton St.

Lane had just opened the door for police, Aaron said, but instead of
following officers' directions, he went to the back of the house, and the
dogs came out.

Aaron said he wasn't sure what kind of dogs they were but described them as
"big." Both animals, he said, took a bullet and still continued to attack
police.

A SWAT officer fired on the first dog as he charged in the house. The dog
went down but got up and lurched at the officer again. A second SWAT
officer fired a fatal shot, police said.

The second dog charged the officer who had just killed the first animal,
and he fired again. The wounded dog ran to the back of the house, Aaron
said, but returned and made a run for the officer with as much ferocity as
the first time. A third officer fired and killed the animal.

Aaron said at least a dozen people, including some children, were in the
house at the time of the 8:15 p.m. raid. Police believe the injured boy
lives there, but were not sure where Lane resides.

The SWAT team went to the house because police believed that residents were
selling marijuana and cocaine and felt it would be too dangerous to go in
without the tactical unit, Aaron said.

Police confiscated 100 pounds of marijuana from an apparent drug deal they
came upon as they approached, police said. Aaron said police had begun an
investigation into the residents of the home after receiving numerous
complaints from neighbors.