A Butler Township police officer was bitten by a Butler City police dog Saturday while the two departments were serving a warrant at a home on Ewing Street.

Township Police Chief John Hays said the incident happened about 1:30 p.m. while the two departments were searching a home in the 100 block of Ewing Street for Justin Tincha, 31, of Butler, who was wanted on a warrant.

Hays said the city police dog and its handler were in the basement of the home when township patrolman Justin Welton came down the stairs behind them.

“For whatever reason the dog turned around and bit (Welton) in the leg,” Hays said.

He said the officer suffered a couple of puncture wounds, was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital and went back to work the rest of his shift.

Hays said that this is the first time a township officers has been bitten by a police dog.

The officers did catch Tincha, Hays said. Information on the warrant was not immediately available.

Butler City Police Chief Ronald Brown did not return a message left seeking comment.