POLICE BRIEFS

Police shot and killed a dog that charged three officers assisting

county officials Tuesday, police said.

The shooting occurred at about 11:11 p.m, after Orange County Social

Services requested police to assist in checking the welfare of two

children, ages 9 and 12, at a residence in the 200 block of Hartford

Street.

Sgt. Janet Perez, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police

Department, said the responding officers met social services officials at

the residence, and together they began the search.

After receiving no response at the front door, the officers rounded

the house and entered the backyard, they found no evidence of either the

children or any dogs. It was after knocking on the rear door of the

residence that the officers reported hearing a dog growling behind them,

police said.

The dog, a large 8-year-old Rottweiler belonging to the house’s owner,

allegedly charged police as they attempted to leave the backyard, and was

shot at close range with an officer’s handgun before anyone was bitten,

they added.

The Rottweiler retreated into the backyard, where it later died.

Perez said that whenever an officer’s firearm is fired outside the

shooting range, an investigation is launched to determine the exact

details of the incident.