OFFICERS SHOOT DOGS, WOUND WOMAN AT KC HOUSE

A woman was injured and three dogs were killed by police after officers
served a narcotics search warrant at an East Side house Tuesday.

The incident occurred about noon in the 2400 block of Drury Avenue.

When officers arrived at the house, they found a Rottweiler chained to the
front porch. When it began acting aggressively toward them, they shot it,
said police spokesman Russ Dykstra.

As the officers approached the door, the dog began to get up, and the
officers shot it again. A bullet passed through the dog and either
ricocheted or fragmented, striking a woman who had arrived at the front
door, Dykstra said.

The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of a leg wound.

In the basement of the house, three more dogs confronted police, and two
were shot.

Two men, a 3-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl in the house were not
injured.

Dykstra said the dogs were mixed breeds, possibly Rottweiler and chow.

"The number one priority of executing a search warrant is the safety of
human life," he said. "Searches are very fluid, things happen quickly.
Officers cannot be distracted by thoughts of, `Am I going to get bitten?'
They have to neutralize that threat. It's unfortunate."

When possible, Dykstra said, police try to lock animals in a room.

In their search of the house, police said, they found large amounts of crack
cocaine and marijuana. Residents of the house were being questioned Tuesday
night.

The shootings are under investigation.

To reach Malcolm Garcia, call (816) 234-4328 or e-mail mgarcia@kcstar.com