Shocking moment thug punches cop in sickening attack – before officer unleashes police dog on him
THIS is the moment a thug was thrown to the ground by a police dog after he punched a cop in the face.
Shocking bodycam footage shows Humberside Police’s Sapphire rushing to PC Steve Matthews aid when he was violently attacked while patrolling Old Town, Hull in September last year.
The clip begins with PC Matthews breaking up a fight – but one of the yobs then turns around and punches him in the face.
PC Matthews quickly thought on his feet and immediately released Sapphire the dog from the boot of his patrol car.
Video then shows the well-trained pooch grabbing the violent thug and taking him to the ground.
She then went on to stop other members of the man’s group interfering with the situation – but sadly the brave hound was injured during the altercation.
PC Matthews said: “Sapphire was punched a few times and had a grazed front leg. She was fine but saw a vet as a precaution.
“I had concussion from the punch and multiple other punches afterwards and had blurry vision in my eye for a few hours but we were both back at work after our routine days off.”
He added: “To put it in context just a few weeks before this Sapphire tracked and found a suicidal missing lad, who walked back to the car with us and gave her a fuss. She’s a safe dog!”
The 21-year-old man appeared at Hull Magistrates court last year in connection to the incident and pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm, battery and assault of an emergency worker.
He received a 26-week suspended prison sentence for 12 months, ordered to pay £100 victim surcharges, £200 in court costs and £900 in victim compensation.
He was also required to carry out unpaid work, attend rehabilitation and comply to the alcohol absence scheme.
PC Matthews added: “As with all dog deployments of this nature, the incident was independently investigated and I was subject to that investigation. It was independently found I had acted within the law and no action was taken.”
He hopes the video will show how quick nights out can turn violent over the festive period.
He explained: “We know for so many of you Christmas is a happy and memorable time of year as families, friends and colleagues come together to celebrate and have a ‘merry’ Christmas over a drink or two.
“Whilst we really want our communities to have a joyful Christmas, it is really important that you do so safely when heading out to celebrate, and I want to make exceptionally clear that any type of assault on our officers and staff will never be tolerated and is wholly unacceptable.”