Hurricane police: Man fatally shot, K-9 stabbed after pursuit, crash

HURRICANE, Utah — One man was shot and killed after police say he threatened officers, drove a car at them and crashed into another vehicle before entering a home.

According to a press release from the Hurricane Police Department, officers were dispatched to the city’s cemetery Monday night and found a man who said he was being threatened.

“When he was found he started yelling at officers in Spanish and drove his car at the officers,” police said.

The man then fled the scene and a short pursuit was quickly terminated due to safety concerns. Officers said they spotted the suspect driving “very slowly and erratically” near 700 W. State Street and said he was making numerous, abrupt U-turns.

The man then hit another car, “causing substantial damage to both vehicles and then went off the road before coming to a stop due to the vehicle damage,” police said. Officers approached the car but said the man fled the area, abandoning the vehicle.

A short time later, police were dispatched to a home near 2460 West and 250 North. A resident told police a man in his mid-40s had entered their home and was speaking Spanish.

The resident who called police and three other family members were not injured in the incident. Officers entered the home and reported shots were fired, saying the suspect was shot and a K-9 officer was critically injured.

K-9 officer Riko was stabbed in the neck and was transported to Las Vegas for emergency medical care, according to police. The 5-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd mix was upgraded to stable condition by Tuesday afternoon.

“Riko is a good dog, especially to his K-9 handler and his family,” Officer Dan Raddatz with the Hurricane City Police Department said. “Our prayers are with them as this is an incredibly difficult thing.”

The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Hurricane resident Jose Palacios Pascacio, died on scene. The incident is being investigated by the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force.

“We send our condolences to the family of the deceased,” Hurricane PD said in its press release. “And our hearts and prayers are currently with our K-9 that was injured and his partner and family as we all are hoping for the best possible outcome.”