Canton Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Sunday, January 10, 2016
Age: 2
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 9, 2016
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 45 years
K9 Jethro succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained early the previous morning while attempting to apprehend a burglar inside a grocery store at 1272 Harrison Avenue SW.
Officers had responded to an alarm activation at approximately 1:15 am and located the subject inside. The subject disobeyed officers' commands and Jethro was deployed. The subject opened fire, striking Jethro three times. The man then fled and continued firing at officers, who returned fire.
The man was taken into custody a short time later after he was found and suffering a gunshot wound to his leg. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 34 years in prison for killing Jethro and 11 years for burglary, with the sentences to run consecutively.
K9 Jethro, Badge number 60, was transported to Stark County Veterinary Emergency Clinic but died as a result of the wounds.