Teen sentenced after assaulting police dog

A Jefferson City teenager charged with assaulting a police dog while officers were trying to search his home in a stolen property case in April was recently sentenced in Cole County Court.

David Wakefield, 17, 4014 Randall Drive, was ordered to serve two days of shock detention for pleading guilty to resisting arrest. A charge of receiving stolen property was dismissed.

Deputies were attempting to question Wakefield when he fled into a nearby wooded area behind his residence, according to the Cole County Sheriff's Department.

A neighbor later spotted Wakefield going back inside the residence and called authorities. When deputies returned, Wakefield was walking out the back door. Wakefield was ordered to stop, but he went back inside and locked the door. The property owner allowed deputies back in the home. A K-9 unit was called in to help as deputies searched the home for Wakefield. The teen was found in a storage area under a staircase, but he refused to come out.

The dog was sent in to bring Wakefield out, but the teen repeatedly kicked the dog in the face and ribs.

The dog bit Wakefield two to four times during the attack. Deputies then Tasered Wakefield, and he was taken into custody.

Wakefield later admitted to taking two cameras, a television and a DVD player that belonged to a relative and attempted to pawn them. He also admitted to taking $1,500 in jewelry and sold those items. Wakefield said he used the money from the sale of jewelry to buy marijuana.