COSTA MESA : Man Held, Pit Bull Slain by Police Team
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Two police officers serving a search warrant at an apartment in Costa Mesa arrested a man and shot to death a growling pit bull terrier that ran out on the front porch toward them, police said Thursday.
A team of drug and special-weapons officers went to the apartment about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Del Mar Avenue, Costa Mesa police said. After uniformed officers knocked on the door and announced that they had a search warrant, the door opened and out ran the growling and barking 60-pound dog.
Two officers, neither of whom were identified by police, opened fire with service pistols when the dog came within a foot of them, killing it.
A search of the apartment led to the seizure of less than half an ounce of cocaine and weapons including a handgun, rifle and shotgun.
Two people in the apartment were questioned and released, but police arrested Robert John Rochford, 28, on a prior warrant on suspicion of drug sales and possession of narcotics for sale.
Rochford was being held at the Costa Mesa City Jail, with bail set at $50,000.
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