Roseville police K9 stabbed, suspect shot and killed

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (KMSP) - Police in Roseville, Minn. shot and killed a man they found hiding in a closet after he stabbed a police dog Wednesday night. Roseville police said the K9, named Otis, was taken to the University of Minnesota for treatment and is now at home with his handler.

Otis replaced K9 Major, who passed away in 2013 after battling health complications relating to a stabbing incident in 2010.

Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig said officers responded to an apartment building at about 10 p.m. Wednesday after neighbors heard pounding coming from a 52-year-old man's unit. Officers also heard the pounding and forced their way into his apartment.

Police found the suspect hiding in a closet with a large knife. The police chief said the suspect made a stabbing motion, striking Otis in the jaw. At that point, officers opened fire, killing the man. Of the 5 officers involved in the response, 2 fired their weapons, according to police.

Police have had previous contact with the suspect for mental health issues. He also had an outstanding warrant for failure to respond to a citation of giving false information during an incident last year. The warrant factored into the decision to enter his apartment. 

The suspect will be identified by the Ramsey County medical examiner later today.