A Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) K9 police dog named Koda was shot and killed last evening in an attempt to arrest a wanted suspect. Not all the details of the shooting have been released. LCSO will issue a news release later today. TV news station reported last evening that Koda was assisting LCSO deputies in pursuit of a wanted suspect identified as Carlos Manuel Cespedes, a 31 year-old Hispanic male.
It is reported that the shooting stemmed from a traffic stop on Seminole Drive and Magnolia Drive. The stop was initiated by LCSO after deputies identified the vehicle being driven by Cespedes. He was wanted for 1st degree murder and several firearm charges. Cespedes apparently lost control of the vehicle during the chase and exited the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle and being chased by deputies, Cespedes shot at deputies and killed Koda. No deputies were reported hit by gun fire.
It was reported that the pursuit began at North Monroe and Fred George Road leading the deputies to the stop on Magnolia. At this time it is not clear if the attempted murder occurred at the time the chase began at approximately 8:30 in the evening.
The murder of a police dog in Florida is considered the same as killing a police officer. Deputies did return fire and injured Cespedes and he was taking to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. The extent of his injuries is not known at this time. Cespedes will now face the more serious charge of the murder of Koda.
The photograph accompanying this article is not that of Koda. The photo is printed in honor of Koda and all K9 Police Officer Dogs that so bravely serve and protect. Rest in Peace, Koda. Perhaps this is the reason when you spell God backwards.
What really is so disgusting about this is that Cespedes is alive and being cared for at TMH and the tax payers are most likely paying for it. Cespedes can be very thankful that some of us are not working in his ward at TMH.
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