Dog shot and killed after attacking firefighter in Florida, authorities say; Owner charged

A dog was shot and killed by a deputy in Florida after it attacked a firefighter, authorities said Thursday.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 47-year-old Robert Long, who was identified as the dog's owner, was arrested on the following charges:

• Resisting an officer without violence
• Hindering the duties of a law enforcement officer
• Reckless disregard by a dog owner

In a news release, the sheriff's office said deputies responded to a scene along a highway after an RV ran off the road Wednesday night.

Long, who authorities said was the driver of the RV, told deputies his 80-year-old mother was in the RV and couldn't get out. He also said he had two dogs in the RV that were "aggressive and would attack if they felt threatened."

The sheriff's office said deputies asked Long to remove the dogs from the RV and keep them on leashes so deputies and members of Escambia County Fire Rescue could safely remove the 80-year-old from the RV.

Long, said authorities, took the dogs out of the RV and removed their leashes. A member of Escambia County Fire Rescue then approached the RV when "one of the dogs ran to him and attacked him from behind, knocking him to the ground, and began biting him," according to the sheriff's office

A deputy shot the dog, the sheriff's office said, adding that the dog later died.

Due to the dogs' known aggression, Escambia County Animal Control arrived on the scene," the sheriff's office said. "Long was given multiple commands to place the second dog on a leash and out of the way so law enforcement could speak with him. Long refused to let go of the dog, and held the dog in between himself and law enforcement, gripping the dog tightly, causing it to whine in pain."

The sheriff's office sid Long was shot with a stun gun and detained for refusing to comply with deputy orders. He was booked at the Escambia County Jail and held on a $3,150 bond.