Update by Santa Barbara Police Department
On July 4, 2020 at about 7:25 PM a Santa Barbara Police Department K9 Officer and his K9 partner Murdock were responding code 3 (lights and sirens) to an emergency call for service regarding a weapon brandishing in progress. The Officer was driving westbound on Carrillo Street and as he went into the intersection with De La Vina Street a passenger vehicle traveling southbound on De La Vina Street collided with the marked police SUV.
The collision caused significant damage to the front end of the passenger vehicle that had been traveling south. The driver of the vehicle was the only occupant and was transported to Cottage hospital with minor injuries.
The collision caused the police SUV to spin around, coming to rest in the center median facing the east after hitting a tree. The Officer was removed from the vehicle by fire fighters and then transported to Cottage Hospital. His K9 partner, Murdock, was removed from the vehicle by a former K9 Officer and then transported to VCA Care Emergency Animal Hospital by Officers.
The Officer was treated for moderate injuries and released from the hospital hours late. K9 Murdock was evaluated and clear for release an hour later, having only been shaken up and sustained a minor cut to his hind toe.
The collision is still under investigation.
Traffic collision at De La Vina at Carrillo involving a police vehicle. SBPD, Fire, and medics are on the scene.