Police officers in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, were involved in a dramatic encounter on the evening of Friday, 25 April, during the arrest of two teenagers following reports of men armed with machetes in Nutsford Vale Park. The incident escalated when one of the suspects released a large dog, identified as an XL Bully, which lunged at officers, prompting them to use a Taser on the animal.
Video footage captured at the scene shows a hooded 16-year-old man being handcuffed by two officers while the aggressive dog barks intently at them. The suspect can be heard calling "come on Skye, come on Skye" as the dog jumps into the air. Shortly afterwards, the man manages to run along the pavement with his hands cuffed behind his back, pursued by officers and the barking dog. One officer can be seen attempting to deter the dog by waving a baton, but ultimately the dog was Tasered to reduce the threat to public and officer safety.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the dog posed a danger and that multiple tactics were attempted before the Taser was deployed. A spokesman stated: "Shortly after 6pm... we were called to reports of men with machetes at Nutsford Vale Park. As officers arrived, it's believed one of the men released a large dog, believed to be an XL Bully, in an attempt to evade police. The dog was aggressive, and several tactics were utilised in an attempt to safely restrain the dog. To mitigate the danger posed to the public and officers at the scene, the dog was Tasered. Sadly, it has since passed away."
The incident resulted in the arrest of two 16-year-old boys. One was arrested on suspicion of robbery, while the other faces charges of robbery and possession of a bladed article. Both young men remain in custody and are slated to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Monday, 28 April.
The owners of the dog expressed their devastation at its death, asserting that the animal was registered, insured, and muzzled at the time. They maintained that the dog was loyal and focused on protecting its owner, rather than being aggressive towards the police. A social media user, claiming to be related to one of the detainees, described the dog Skye as a victim of "brutality," stating: "My dog Skye was an XL Bully; she was killed yesterday by police because she barked at them for putting my 16-year-old brother in a headlock and dragging him."
GMP, however, emphasized the need to prioritise safety, remarking, "Several tactics were utilised in an attempt to safely restrain the dog. To mitigate the danger posed to the public and officers at the scene, the dog was tasered."
This is one of several recent high-profile incidents involving XL Bully dogs across the UK since restrictions on ownership of the breed came into effect last year, limiting legal ownership to those with exemption certificates. Earlier this month, a woman in Bristol was airlifted to hospital with life-changing injuries following an attack by a dog believed to be an XL Bully. In another case, an inquest revealed that a man in Birmingham died after being mauled by four dogs, including two XL Bullies.
In the current case, GMP has referred the matter to its Professional Standards Directorate for a full review, in line with standard procedures after such incidents involving police action. The ongoing investigation underscores the complexity and risks involved when dealing with potentially dangerous animals during law enforcement operations.
Source: Noah Wire Services