Suit claims police dog attacked spectator at K-9 competition

A suburban woman wasn't expecting to become part of the event last year when she attended a police dog competition in Algonquin.

But that's exactly what happened when, according to a lawsuit filed this week in McHenry County Circuit Court, a Waukegan police dog commanded to attack a man in a padded suit instead veered into the crowd and bit her.

Karyn Pimental is suing the city of Waukegan and police officer Mallory Baker, saying their negligence is to blame for the dog attack that left her with severe bite wounds to the leg.

The suit seeks at least $100,000 in damages.

"We're not trying to indict anybody, but it happened and certainly she should be made whole," Pimental attorney Christopher Pierce said Friday. "It's unfortunate that it happened. She was just a passive spectator."

Waukegan police officials referred questions about the lawsuit to city attorney Newton Finn, who was not available for comment.

According to the lawsuit, the incident happened Aug. 14 while Pimental attended the K-9 Olympics, a police dog competition that drew entrants from across the northern suburbs. Reports indicate another Waukegan police dog won the event.

The suit states that as part of the event Baker intentionally agitated Pablo, a German Shepherd he was handling, then let him off his leash. Pierce said the dog was supposed to attack a man in protective gear.

"Instead of attacking the man, the dog went into the crowd and attacked my client," he said.

The attack left puncture wounds on both sides of one of Pimental's thighs, Pierce said. Her injury has since been magnified by post-treatment complications, he added.

The case is scheduled to make its first court appearance June 8 before Judge Michael Caldwell.