Man sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing police dog, other charges

INDIANAPOLIS – A convicted burglar has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple crimes, including the fatal shooting of a police dog.\nClinton Hernandez, 21, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to seven of 10 charges against him, including burglary and interfering with a law-enforcement animal.\nAuthorities said Hernandez used a 9-millimeter handgun to shoot and kill Bo, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, following a burglary and chase.\nPolice officers were responding to a possible burglary at a home on the south side of Indianapolis on May 10 when they spotted a suspicious vehicle and began a pursuit. The driver fled on Interstate 65 and Interstate 465 to the southeast side, where he ditched the vehicle and fled on foot, police said.\nOfficer Scott Johnson of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released the dog, which went after Hernandez. Hernandez shot the dog when it bit him on the leg. Johnson also fired his weapon, striking Hernandez in the leg and hip.\nJohnson said he still misses his canine partner.\n“It’s just like it happened yesterday,” he said after the hearing Wednesday.