By Kevin P. Connolly
Orlando Sentinel
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A felon punched and tried to drown a police dog in a canal while attempting to escape from Osceola County Sheriff’s Office drug agents, authorities said Thursday.
Michael Lee Holden, 45, faces numerous charges, including battery on a police K-9, after he resisted deputies while in a canal and repeatedly punched the dog in the face, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident began Wednesday when undercover narcotics agents “conducted a controlled drug purchase at Holden’s residence” on Crawford Avenue in Kissimmee, a statement from authorities said.
“After the purchase was made, Holden left on a bicycle,” the statement said. “Deputies followed Holden and attempted to place him in custody when he ran toward a canal.”
Police dogs searched the canal and found Holden, who was hiding underwater.
When a dog tried to apprehend him, Holden punched the dog about five times and knocked it off of him. Holden then tried to drown the dog, the statement said.
One deputy struck Holden “numerous times on top of the head with a closed fist in an effort to stop Holden from drowning the dog,” the statement said. It took two deputies to tire Holden to the point he could not fight back and they could secure him.
A deputy was taken to St. Cloud Regional Medical Center after suffering minor injuries.
Holden also faces these charges: attempted sale and delivery of cocaine, resisting with violence, battery on a law-enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer and tampering with evidence.
A woman who was at the home at the time also was arrested, authorities said. Betty Jo Ward was charged with tampering with evidence. At some point, she tried to discard a glass pipe, deputies said.
Holden’s criminal history includes 42 arrests and more than 100 violent-crime and felony drug charges, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Copyright 2009 Orland Sentinel