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Posted by: kwflatbed

By Eric Connor
The Greenville News

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — A Greenville County Sheriff's deputy who mistakenly killed a K-9 this morning didn't know the dog biting his leg had been released by a fellow deputy to help arrest a suspect in the shooting of a convenience store clerk, a spokesman said today.
The K-9, named "Wes," was released to help in the arrest but began to bite the leg of the deputy, who "feared for his safety" and shot the dog, Lt. Shea Smith said.
The suspect, who ran from his Alice Avenue home, was already handcuffed, Smith said. The dog was acting on its training to go after a suspect and clamped its teeth down on Deputy Chris McAlmont's ankle instead, Smith said.
The store clerk who was shot in the leg at the Hot Spot convenience store on West Blue Ridge Drive was treated at the hospital and released.
The man who was arrested -- Antwaun Demarcus Whitmire, 26 -- faces multiple charges, including assault and battery with intent to kill, according to arrest warrants.
An internal affairs panel will review the incident as part of an automatic investigation whenever a service weapon is fired, Smith said. Sheriff Steve Loftis will review the panel's findings, probably later this week, and release more details, Smith said.
About 3:30 a.m.. this morning, Whitmire's girlfriend went to 201 Alice Ave. where Whitmire lives.
Whitmire entered her car armed with a rifle, Smith said.
About an hour and a half later, the two pulled into the Hot Spot at 3000 W. Blue Ridge Drive to refuel and went inside, Smith said.
Smith said the couple argued in the store and let, but the woman went back inside the store, Smith said.
Employees locked the door and told Whitmire they were calling 911, Smith said.
"Numerous shots" were fired through the store windows, injuring the clerk in the leg, Smith said.
At least four deputies -- including deputy John Bennick and the K-9 -- responded to Whitmire's home on Alice Avenue, Smith said.
Bennick, who had approached the home from a different direction than the rest of the deputies, released the K-9 as deputies handcuffed Whitmire, who had dropped his rifle. McAlmont was helping arrest Whitmire and felt a dog biting his leg, Smith said.
"Due to the darkness and focusing on apprehending Whitmire, McAlmont was unaware that it was 'Wes' that was biting his leg," Smith said. "The dog released his bite after sustaining at least one gunshot wound."
The dog was rushed to Upstate Veterinary Specialists on Woods Lake Road but died from the gunshot wound, Smith said.
McAlmont was treated at the hospital for bites to his leg and released, Smith said.
It's not uncommon that a suspect or someone related will release a dog to disrupt an arrest, Smith said.
The dog's shooting marks the second time this year that a K-9 has been critically injured in the line of duty.
In March, a K-9 named "Kroc" was stabbed by a fleeing suspect in Taylors and suffered severe injuries. Now recovered, "Kroc" is doing well and has participated in a couple of assignments, Smith said.
Whitmire is being housed in the Greenville County Detention Center on no bond. Whitmire is charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, kidnapping, pointing and presenting a firearm, discharging a firearm into a dwelling, criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and two counts of assault with intent to kill, according to warrants.



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