By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
FLINT, Mich. — An inmate has been charged after he was caught on surveillance video attacking the jail’s therapy dog, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said.
On Sept. 24, the jail’s comfort dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Josie, started her day by excitedly greeting staff and inmates throughout the jail. While in the general population area, surveillance video shows Josie wagging her tail and greeting an inmate who suddenly hit her, causing injuries.
"[The inmate] pulled back and struck Josie hard enough that created a concussion, scraped the inside of her pupil,” Sheriff Christopher Swanson said.
Josie, who weighs less than 15 pounds, works to break down barriers with inmates and victims who testify over difficult circumstances, Swanson said.
During a press conference, Swanson said the inmate had also attacked two corrections officers at the jail in separate incidents earlier this year.
The sheriff said Josie returned to work on Sept. 30 and is recovering well.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said during the press conference that he immediately moved forward with charges and plans to hold Josie’s attacker accountable.
“I was terribly shocked and saddened when I saw the video you sent to me. I watched it on my phone right at my desk and I said, ‘Bring the warrant request right to me instead of taking it to the warrant division because I wanted to charge it personally and as harshly as we can under the law,’” Leyton said during the press conference.
