Joshua Rivera

A Butler police dog helped capture a man wanted on a pair of felony warrants after he tried to flee officers Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

The suspect, 30-year-old Joshua A. Rivera of Butler, didn't get far and ended up trying to fight K-9 officer Gunner.

A bad move, police said.

Rivera ended up at a Pittsburgh hospital where he was treated for injuries including bites to his arm.

Police Sgt. Brian Grooms, who is Gunner's handler, was on duty about 3:20 p.m. when he spotted a car without a valid inspection traveling on South Street.

The officer turned around and by the time he found the car, the driver had pulled over and had the hood up, according to a police report.

Grooms looked into the car and noticed a man in the back seat with a hat pulled down over his face.

“It looked like he was trying to hide his identity,” police Deputy Chief David Adam said of the passenger.

Once he got a better look, Grooms recognized Rivera, who he is investigating in connection with a burglary case. He also knew the suspect had other warrants out for him.

Grooms grabbed Rivera by the arm and warned him not to run or he would release Gunner. The defendant, police said, did not heed the warning.

Rivera pulled away, got out of the car and ran between two houses in the 300 block of Hickory Street. Gunner took off after the suspect and quickly caught him, Adam said.

The dog “engaged, grabbed (Rivera) by the left elbow and took him to the ground,” according to the police report.

The defendant managed to get up after Gunner momentarily lost his grip. The dog then bit the suspect on the right elbow and again took Rivera to the ground.

The defendant tried one more time to get up while pleading for the officer to “get the dog off me,” police said.

But when Grooms told the suspect to stay down, Rivera continued to punch and fight the dog.

Officers eventually moved in but the defendant began struggling with the two-legged officers.

Gunner again grabbed Rivera, this time by the right shoulder, before police placed the defendant in handcuffs.

Butler Fire Department medics were called and described the defendant as bleeding from the right forearm and elbow. Authorities said he had other minor injuries to the neck and shoulder, authorities said.

He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital before being transferred to an unknown Pittsburgh hospital, Adam said. His condition was not known this morning.

Adam said Rivera is facing resisting arrest and other charges.

Court records showed that Butler police already have an unrelated arrest warrant for the suspect stemming from the theft of a sport utility vehicle in December.

Additionally, Rivera has a bench warrant out for him in connection with a 2009 aggravated assault case in Butler.