Blade

A Butler police dog was hurt in the line of duty Wednesday night while helping nab an eight-time convicted burglar caught breaking into a sandwich shop in the city, police said.

Kenneth Tyson Jr., 56, of Butler was arrested after grappling with Blade, the four-legged officer. The canine had a minor eye injury but is back on the job, police said.

Tyson, whose criminal records include 15 felony convictions, is charged with a pair of felonies and is in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail.

A call for a burglary in progress just after 7 p.m. sent city police to the Hoagie Shop in the 100 block of North McKean Street.

The caller told authorities that she saw a black man wearing dark clothing break a front window and enter the shop, according to court documents

Officers got there quickly and found the suspect, wearing purple rubber gloves, still inside the business. He matched the description given by the witness.

The alleged burglar, later identified as Tyson, also had a gym bag draped over his shoulder.

Officers ordered him outside and he walked out through the broken window, police said. But he refused officers’ commands to get on the ground.

Instead, police said, he moved sideways toward East New Castle Street. That prompted Patrolman David Villotti, Blade’s handler, to release the dog.

While Blade engaged Tyson, the suspect began “grabbing at the K-9’s face and muzzle,” a police affidavit said.

Officers moved in and handcuffed Tyson. A search of his bag turned up a digital video recorder and security camera that he had allegedly taken from the Hoagie Shop.

A veterinarian on Wednesday night treated Blade for a cut to the eyelid.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Tyson on felony charges of burglary and assaulting a police animal and misdemeanor charges of theft and resisting arrest.

At his arraignment, Tyson told Stoughton he has worked at VA Butler Healthcare in Butler Township for the past four years and previously served 15 years in the military.

A telephone call to VA Butler Healthcare was not immediately returned.

All of Tyson’s criminal past, which dates back to 1988 and includes 19 separate cases, was racked up in Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he formerly lived, court records showed.

Along with eight burglaries, he has two convictions each for attempted burglary and trespass.

Following his most recent conviction for burglary in 2008, he was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in state prison, records showed.