A Utah man accused of shooting and killing a police dog earlier this month was charged Thursday with a number of felonies related to the shooting.
Torey Chase Massey, 28, was charged in 3rd District Court with two first-degree felony counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, along with a third-degree felony count of injuring a police service animal. He was also charged with failure to stop at the command of police, possessing another person's identification documents and other drug-related counts.
Massey is accused of fatally shooting a Unified Police K-9 named Dingo on July 6 as police were trying to arrest him. The man was a wanted fugitive, according to a probable cause statement filed in court, and police that day had set up surveillance near a Salt Lake County home. Investigators saw Massey drive away, according to charges, and a pursuit ensued, with UPD officers spiking Massey's tires.
Massey continued to drive a short distance, and eventually ran away from his car. That's when Sgt. Chad Reyes sent out Dingo, according to charges, who quickly closed in on the suspect near a steep, weed-covered drop-off near The Brickyard.
"Sgt. Reyes observed Massey look back at Dingo and then at Sgt. Reyes with a taunting smirk on his face," prosecutors wrote in charging documents. "Dingo leapt up and attached to Massey's left side, which caused them both to tumble off the drop-off and into the weeds."
As Reyes ran towards them, he heard three gunshots and a yelp from the K-9 before two more shots were fired, according to charging documents. By the time Reyes reached the animal, Massey was gone — though other officers later located and arrested him.
Dingo was rushed to a nearby animal hospital, where he died.
Police say they later found a .45-caliber handgun and a black folding knife near where the shooting occurred. When Massey was searched by police, according to charges, officers found methamphetamine and heroin in his pockets. A stolen wallet was also found in the vehicle Massey was driving, charges state.
Massey had been wanted for theft, robbery and aggravated assault, according to police. He has an extensive state felony criminal history, ranging from robbery and aggravated assault to drug violations.
Utah Department of Corrections records show that Massey had been released on probation or parole five times in the past 10 years, only to return for new offenses. He was last released from the Utah State Prison on April 11 of this year.
No court dates were immediately set in the case involving Dingo.
Saturday, a few hundred officers and friends attended a memorial service for the canine.
"He was my fishing buddy, my confidant, my constant companion, my ever-loyal partner and my protector," Dingo's handler, Reyes said during the service for the 7-year-old Belgian Malinois.
jmiller@sltrib.com
Twitter: @jm_miller
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, left, looks over at his partner's casket as he takes the stage at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, center, and pall bearers take ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working to apprehend a suspect on July 6th. Sgt. Reyes was Dingo's handler, and was promoted to Lieutenant by Sheriff Jim Winder during the ceremony, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, center, and pall bearers take ÒDingo,Ó past a cordon of police dogs after a memorial service for the Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working to apprehend a suspect. Sgt. Reyes was Dingo's handler, and was promoted to Lieutenant by Sheriff Jim Winder during the ceremony, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, left, hugs Sheriff Jim Winder after Winder promoted him to Lieutenant at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sheriff Jim Winder speaks during the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Police dog "ted" waits at attention as he stands in a cordon of other Police dogs at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes salutes as the flag draping his K-9 partner's casket is lifted to be folded at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes watches as the flag draping his K-9 partner's casket is lifted to be folded at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes accepts the flag that draped his K-9 partner's casket from Sheriff Jim Winder at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Talon and Aspen Reyes together hold the flag that was draping the casket of their family dog and K-9 partner for their father, Sgt. Chad Reyes at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, left, and Sheriff Jim Winder speak in the hallway prior to the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, left, gets a hug from Shawn Winder, Sheriff Jim Winder's wife prior to the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes, left, and Sheriff Jim Winder speak in the hallway prior to the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune An image of "Dingo" is shown during the memorial service for the Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes listens during the memorial service for his K-9 partner ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Sgt. Chad Reyes pauses to gather his thoughts as he speaks about his K-9 partner at the memorial service for ÒDingo,Ó a Unified Police Department dog shot and killed in the line of duty July 6 while working with his K-9 handler Sgt. Chad Reyes, Saturday, July 15, 2017.
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