'Beloved' Police Dog Killed, Officers Injured When Driver Hits Cruiser

A Kentucky man is facing charges after driving the wrong way and slamming into a police patrol vehicle on Saturday morning, killing a "beloved" K9 and injuring two officers, local authorities said.

The driver of the 2015 Jeep Patriot that struck the Franklin Police Division (FPD) cruiser was identified as 21-year-old Michael T. Sims, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) said in a statement sent to Newsweek on Saturday night. Sims faces charges of felonious assault of a police officer and felonious assault of a police dog.

The fatal crash happened Saturday morning around 10:40 a.m. on South River Street in Franklin, Ohio, a city of nearly 12,000 residents in northwest Warren County, according to OSHP, which is investigating the incident.

Two FPD officers were on patrol with Fury, their K9 partner, and driving southwest when Sims "began traveling the wrong way on South River Street at a high rate of speed" and struck the marked police vehicle with Fury and the officers inside.

After slamming into the cruiser, the Jeep veered off the road and hit a tree before coming to a stop, OSHP said.

OSHP Sergeant Bridget Matt told Newsweek in an email that the speed limit for South River Street is 25 miles per hour and said the preliminary investigation indicates that Sims was driving at roughly 70 mph before striking the FPD cruiser.

Fury was rushed to a local veterinarian where he succumbed to his injuries shortly before 11:40 a.m., OSHP said. The two FPD officers, Fury's handler Officer Alex Butler, and an officer who was being trained by Butler, suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and were treated at Kettering Health Franklin.

Butler told Newsweek in an interview on Sunday that the K9 was his "best friend."

He said Fury was a 3-year-old German Shepherd who had been with the FPD since June 2021. Fury served as a patrol and narcotic K9 where he was trained in tracking, apprehension, and building searches. Butler described Fury as "special" and said his canine partner had a unique ability to be a "normal dog" when he wasn't working. Fury his special Kong toy and playing fetch, Butler said.

"He had a sweet side not many people got to see unless you saw him at home," Butler told Newsweek. "He thought he was a lap dog despite his weight of 115 pounds. When he was working he had a bite that was unforgettable and was extremely obedient. I spent more time with K9 Fury on a day-to-day basis than I spent with anyone else. He was my best friend and will be extremely missed."

FPD Chief Adam Colon told Newsweek in an interview on Sunday that everyone in the department adored Fury, saying the pooch was "loved by us all."

"He was an asset not only to the City of Franklin but to many other communities in the region who would often call upon him for assistance," Colon said. "He was recognized by many for the numerous public events that he attended and helped foster community relations and trust. The loss of Fury is hard on our whole department but especially for his handler and his family. Fury was literally part of Officer Butler's family as he lived with him and his wife and children. The loss of his life will have a long and lasting impact on us all."

The chief sent photos to Newsweek of the FPD cruiser that was struck by Sims, which shows the back of the vehicle damaged.

Franklin police also took to Facebook to mourn the loss of Fury, calling the canine officer "beloved" in a post that included the dog's photo and badge.

Sims was also treated for minor injuries and will be booked into the Warren County Jail on the two initial criminal charges once he's released from Atrium Medical Center, OSHP said.

Troopers noted that additional criminal charges are possible as OSHP continues to investigate the crash. Matt told Newsweek that impairment is not believed to be a factor.

Update 11/12/2023, 5:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with photos and comments from Butler and Colon.