South Pasadena Family Wants Apology From Police Department After 5-Year-Old Boy Was Bitten By Police K9

A police department in California has yet to apologize to the family of a boy who was bitten by one of its police dogs.

People gathered in South Pasadena for National Night Out, a nationwide event created to improve the relationship between the police force and the communities they serve. During that Tuesday evening, one of the police K9 dogs bit a 5-year-old boy named Sebastian.

The father of the child, Josh Forbes, says his son was excited to see the canines the police had brought out to see the public. The boy stepped toward the dog but then moved back. Seconds later, the dog allegedly lunged at the boy unprovoked and bit him.

“Then, before I could even get a chance to step back in line, the dog lunged at me,” Sebastian said.

“Somehow, he locked eyes on Sebastian – he didn’t like the look of him or something – and the dog just went straight for him and jumped on his face and was biting him and had him pinned to the ground,” said Forbes.

Thankfully, the K9’s handler and Forbes were able to pull the dog off the boy. Paramedics who were already at the event were able to treat him for his wounds. “There was blood streaming down his head, and it was pretty scary,” Forbes said. “I’d like an apology.”

And he says he hasn’t received one. “I was told hey, you know this was an accident; accidents happen – calm down,” Forbes told CBSLA. “I just want to make sure that this is the last kid that dog ever bites.” South Pasadena Police Department has yet to speak on the incident.