Crystal Police Squad Car Window Smashed With K-9 Inside

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Crystal Police are asking for the public's help in finding the person responsible for throwing a 40-pound brick through the window of a squad car -- which had a K-9 officer inside.

Police say the incident happened early Saturday morning in the police department parking lot.

Surveillance video shows the suspect quickly approach the squad car before smashing out the back window with a large landscaping brick. The suspect then ran away towards Douglas Drive.

A dog named Rocco -- the department's first K-9 officer -- was in the backseat.

Deputy Chief Mike Meehan says the dog wasn't hurt.

"The rear cage prevented the brick from entering into the rear seat," Meehan said. "But as you can imagine, a lot of the shattered glass rained down into the rear area of that car."

Meehan says the car is equipped with a special cooling system and a water dispenser for Rocco. His partner was in the station working on a police report at the time of the crime.

He says they still don't know why someone would target the squad car or the K-9 officer.

"We really don't know at this point if it was somebody that has an ax to grind with police in general, or the police department, or the K-9 in particular -- or if it was just, you know, a foolish act," Meehan said.

Police are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Call 911 or 763-531-1020 if you have any information about this crime.