Jail, probation for man bitten by Aurora police dog while hiding in house
A 28-year-old man who was bitten by a police dog while hiding from authorities in an Aurora home has been sentenced to two years of probation and more than seven months time served at the Kane County jail.
Guillermo M. Velazquez, 28, of the 1200 block of Kings Court, West Chicago, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, felony criminal trespass and three misdemeanor counts of resisting police after the May 2 incident on the city's near east side.
According to police, Velazquez was driving a stolen vehicle near Ashland Avenue and Fifth Street when an officer pulled him over around 7:30 a.m. The officer made Velazquez get out of the vehicle, but he took off running north on Fifth and then west to the 900 block of Lafayette Street and into a house.
The owner of the home ran outside as Velazquez tried to hide upstairs. Police surrounded the home, but Velazquez refused to surrender, so officers sent the police dog, Kato, inside, and the dog quickly found Velazquez hiding under a bed and bit him, authorities said.
Officers moved in and arrested Velazquez, who also was charged with kicking an officer in the chest as police walked him down a set of stairs.
Velazquez also was charged with five counts of felony burglary from a case earlier that day, according to Kane County court records.
Velazquez pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of felony burglary, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing other burglary counts; he also pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a police officer in the dog case, a felony that carried a punishment ranging from probation up to seven years in prison.
Under the plea agreement accepted by Judge Clint Hull, Velazquez received credit for 226 days served at the Kane County jail while the two cases were pending. The sentences for both felonies were served concurrently, or at the same time, and he was released from jail.
Velazquez still must pay $2,230 in court fines and fees along with an additional $2,300 restitution in the burglary case. If he violates his probation, he could be resentenced to up to 15 years in prison on the burglary charge.