Dash cam video released in K9 biting incident

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Dash cam video released Monday provides a closer look at what happened when a Wilmington police K-9 officer unleashed his police dog on a suspect who police say drove through a DWI checkpoint and led them on a chase Nov. 1.

In the video, you can see a cruiser ram into Johnnie Williams car to stop him. Then, as Williams puts his hands up, Stafford Brister lifts his dog into Williams’ car. The K-9 attacks. After that, officers surround Williams’ car and one breaks his window to pull Williams out.

During an interview he did with WWAY Nov. 7, Williams swore he didn’t deserve that treatment.

“I didn’t do anything forceful against the officers. I didn’t not do anything. I stopped and I gave up my rights and I tried holding up my hands,” Williams said.

That’s why New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David said he wanted a grand jury to look at the case.

“What distinguishes officer Brister’s case from the other three, is in the first three, I believed it was clear as a matter of law the reasonable use of force was not something that was subject to review by this community. This one I regarded as close enough where the community should be involved,” David said.

After watching the dash cam video, a New Hanover County grand jury cleared Brister whose been on paid administrative leave since the incident. Then, jurors indicted Williams on several charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a government official. Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said there will be an internal investigation into the incident.