Minneapolis K9 Dies on Burglary Call

A police dog with the Minneapolis K9 unit died Monday morning after he slipped and fell off the roof a building while responding to a burglary.

Minneapolis police were called to a possible burglary at 222 Hennepin Avenue South just after 7 a.m. Monday. Responding officers found evidence a suspect may have still been in the building, so a K9 unit was called to assist.

Around 8:15 a.m. the police dog Chase and his handler, Officer Eric Lukes, were searching the roof of the three story building when the dog fell. The officer was not injured.

Chase was taken to the University of Minnesota for medical treatment but he was unable to be saved. Chase has been in service with the Minneapolis Police Department since 2007.

“The MPD family is saddened by this loss and by what it means to Officer Lukes and his immediate family,” Police Chief Tim Dolan said. “The service that the canines provide is invaluable to safeguarding the lives of our officers and the loss of a canine partner is very hard on the family of the officer who raise these animals as their own.”

Officers at the scene arrested three suspects in connection with the burglary.