Eric Rodriguez, 35, was arrested after he stabbed a sheriff's K-9 named Nike multiple times in the face during a burglary response in Escondido. Nike, a six-year-old Belgian Malinois, sustained five facial lacerations and two puncture wounds that required about 10 stitches. The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. when Rodriguez was being pursued by police officers who were responding to a burglary call. He is now booked into the Vista Detention Facility on charges including injuring a working dog and resisting arrest.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On December *, a burglar named Eric Rodriguez, 35, attacked Nike, a six-year-old Belgian Malinois police dog from the San Diego County Sheriff's K-9 Unit, while responding officers were trying to arrest him in Escondido. The suspect was allegedly armed with a large stick and had thrown objects at the officers, who tried to de-escalate the situation but eventually deployed Nike to apprehend Rodriguez. However, instead of surrendering, Rodriguez stabbed Nike multiple times in the face, causing five facial lacerations and two puncture wounds, requiring about 10 stitches to treat. The deputies quickly arrested Rodriguez, charging him with several crimes including injuring a working dog and burglary.
Written for “Police Dog Stabbed by Burglar” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 5961 · logged 2026-09-07
The Sheriff’s K-9 Unit team was assisting the Escondido Police Department with an ongoing burglary at a business just before 12:30 a.m.
Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter
California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
asserted
team → assist → inbox
The suspect, 35-year-old Eric Rodriguez, held a large stick and threw objects at responding Escondido police officers.
asserted
suspect → hold → officers
Cops tried to de-escalate the situation, but Rodriguez ignored all warnings and refused to comply, authorities said.
asserted
authorities → try → warnings
Officers then deployed the sheriff’s K-9 — a six-year-old Belgian Malinois named Nike — to apprehend the suspect, but Rodriguez responded by mercilessly stabbing Nike several times in the face.
asserted
Rodriguez → deploy → face
The brave dog sustained five facial lacerations and two puncture wounds, which required about 10 stitches.
asserted
which → sustain → stitches
Following the attack, the deputies quickly arrested Rodriguez and took him into custody.
asserted
deputies → follow → custody
He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on numerous charges, including injuring a working dog, resisting arrest, second-degree burglary and property vandalism, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
uncertain
He → book → Office
Nike was rushed by his handler to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of North County in San Marcos for emergency treatment.
asserted
Nike → rush → treatment
He was released from veterinary care early Sunday morning.
asserted
He → release → care
“He’s a tough pup with a passion for his work.
asserted
He → ’ → work
Nike, who has been a Sheriff’s K-9 for almost two years, is now healing at home with his deputy handler.
asserted
who → heal → handler
We are hopeful Nike will make a full recovery,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
asserted
Office → make → post
