NASHVILLE – Canine Officer Austin Bass and his partner, Otto, are recovering from cuts received late last night while working to apprehend a burglar inside Carpenter’s Square Church at 3016 Nolensville Pike.
South Precinct officers responded to a burglary in progress call at the church just before 10 p.m. Officer Bass and Otto also responded. After making announcements for the burglar to surrender or a police dog would be entering the building, the suspect, Bonnie McLemore, 37, placed a chair in the window in an attempt to block the canine team. She also threatened to shoot the dog. Officer Bass and Otto made their way through the broken window.
As Otto attempted to apprehend McLemore, she tried to stab him in the neck with a pair of scissors before she was quickly restrained.
Both canine team members received cuts from broken glass, Bass to his hand that later required stitches, and Otto to one of his paws that later required treatment at a local veterinary hospital.
McLemore drove to the church in a Dodge Charger that she admitted to stealing earlier Thursday from the 400 block of McNally Drive. She is jailed in lieu of $42,000 bond on charges of burglary, auto theft, aggravated animal cruelty and vandalism.
MNPD
