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GRPD standoff with barricaded gunman comes to an end after suspect stabs K9 dog

The suspect is now in custody. The police dog is recovering after undergoing surgery for eight stab wounds.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man is in custody following a standoff that lasted several hours overnight Monday on the city's northwest side.

The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) tells 13 ON YOUR SIDE the suspect was taken into custody just after 3 a.m. at a home on Leonard Street NW, not far from Valley Avenue NW.

Police say it began Sunday night when they attempted to arrest the suspect for an assault that occurred sometime Saturday morning. The suspect had run into a home in the 1300 block of Leonard Street NW and barricaded himself inside.

The suspect exited the home in an attempt to flee, fired shots at responding officers and retreated back into the home.

At one point, the man came outside on the roof of the home and police could be heard telling the man to "drop the knife" before he eventually went back inside.

Police also shot tear gas into the home in an attempt to get him to come out, but it's unclear if that had any effect.

Around 3 a.m., a police K9 was sent into the home, according to police. The man allegedly stabbed the dog, and that's when police entered the home and took the man into custody. 

Credit: GRPD

The dog, named Eli, was taken to an animal hospital for treatment with life-threatening injuries, where he underwent surgery. Police say Eli was stabbed a total of eight times, twice in the lung, and required a blood transfusion due to blood loss. He is now recovering.

Captain Terry Dixon with GRPD says the man was given multiple opportunities to leave the home.

"We try to give a person every opportunity to exit on their own. And then we certainly follow protocol to do it to get someone out in the least intrusive ways as we most possibly can," he said.

Leonard Street was closed for several hours for the investigation. It has since reopened. 

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact GRPD at 616-456-3400 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. 

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