NORWALK - Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies searching for a suspected armed gang member shot and killed a pit bull last Saturday after it attacked a police canine, authorities said.Deputies responded to a call of several gang members, including one armed with a gun, at Hermosillo Park at 3:30 p.m. The suspects fled when deputies arrived. One deputy saw a man with a gun running towards a nearby residential neighborhood in the 12000 block of 161st St., officials said. Deputies surrounded the neighborhood and called in support from SWAT and the K-9 team. As they prepared to search the neighborhood, deputies said they asked a man, whose backyard was the last seen location of the armed suspect, to secure a pit bull that was in the backyard. While attempting to secure the dog, it overpowered the owner and charged into the middle of the street, officials said. The pit bull attacked the K-9, named Tosca, as it stood on the end of its leash next to its deputy handler. Deputies shot the pit bull after it bit Tosca's neck and pinned it to the ground. The pit bull released its bite on the K-9 and later died. Tosca is "doing well" and expected to survive. After the search resumed, deputies found three known gang members, who were arrested for parole violations. A resident at the home where the pit bull lived found a fully loaded handgun in his backyard.

********** Published: September 22, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 23