Man facing charges for stabbing GRPD K9

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) A 24-year old man is facing multiple felony charges after a standoff that spanned over six hours in Northwest Grand Rapids on Sunday night and resulted in injuries to a department K9. 

Terry Junior Warren is facing felony charges that include assault, home invasion, weapons charges, and causing serious injury to a police animal. 

The standoff on Leonard St. NW followed a Grand Rapids Police Department search for Warren, the suspect in assault incident that happened on November 12.

During their search, GRPD officers say Warren ran into a residence, then came out attempting to flee. 

GRPD says Warren fired several rounds before going back into the residence, where they heard more gunfire. 

“I am very proud of the actions of our officers,” said Chief Eric Winstrom. “They showed exceptional professionalism and patience over many hours to encourage Warren to surrender even while he was shooting both inside and outside the house. This is an extremely violent individual in a high-pressure situation.”

After surrounding the residence for more than six hours and unsuccessful attempts to get Warren to surrender, officers sent K9 Eli into the house. 

According to GRPD, that K9 was stabbed eight times by Warren, with 2 of those stab wounds puncturing his lung. 

K9 Eli suffered a significant loss of blood and needed a blood transfusion. 

“It’s a difficult decision to send in a K9 knowing that harm may come to the dog, but when you have an armed suspect that is showing no signs of surrender, it can rapidly escalate into a use of deadly force,” said Winstrom. “Choosing to use a police K9 is a less lethal way to gain control and bring a stand-off to a peaceful end. Eli is recovering, and we are hopeful he will soon be able to leave the hospital and continue to heal at home.”

GRPD says they will send more updates on Eli's condition in the next few days.