Police took a Gary man into custody on Monday after a routine traffic stop for an improper headlight turned into a scuffle with an Indiana State Police trooper in which the suspect laid on top of a police K9 after the dog bit him because he fled from police, according to a release.
The K9, Zero, was not injured, police said.
Trooper Ben Beers with the Lowell Post initiated a traffic stop on a gray 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Monday at the intersection of Burr Street and 10th Avenue in Gary for an improper headlight, a minor traffic offense, according to a release from Sgt. Glen Fifield, the Lowell Post’s public information officer.
During the traffic stop, police determined that the driver, Shelley O. Cooper Jr., 33, had a suspended license. Police also detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle, and observed a red plastic cup in the center console that appeared to have an alcoholic beverage in it.
Beers had the driver exit the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests and conduct further investigation. After the driver exited the Jeep, the trooper attempted to conduct a pat down of the driver for his safety; however, the driver refused to cooperate, and a struggle took place between the trooper and the driver, police said.
During the struggle, the driver pulled away from the officer and began to run from the traffic stop. He turned back towards Beers and began to reach into his waistband and attempted to pull a handgun from his pants, police said.
As he did so, he dropped the gun and again began to run from the trooper. The driver was eventually taken into custody after being bitten by K9 Zero, Beers’ assigned K9, and also after being hit with a stun gun by Beers. During the altercation and after being bitten by K9 Zero, the suspect intentionally laid on top of the K9 with all of his body weight in what appeared to be an attempt to injure the K9, police said.
Cooper sustained minor facial injuries from the fall after being hit with the stun gun. He was checked by Gary EMS and transported to Northlake Hospital for treatment and then later transported to the Lake County Jail.
According to an online court docket, Cooper is charged with one count of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; four Class A misdemeanors, including striking a law enforcement animal, driving while suspended with a prior in the past 10 years, resisting law enforcement, and unlawful carrying of a handgun; and a Class B misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
During the investigation, it was determined that Cooper was also a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, police said.
Cooper is scheduled for an initial hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 16 before Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan.
