Wilmington police officer cleared in dog bite incident

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County grand jury cleared a Wilmington Police Department K-9 officer Monday of wrongdoing for a police chase that ended with his police dog biting and hurting a suspect. Then, jurors indicted the suspect on several charges.

Jurors listened to testimony from an N.C. State Bureau of Investigation investigator and watched dash cam video to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against Officer Stafford Brister in connection with the Nov. 1 arrest of Johnnie Lamont Williams. They decided Brister was not in the wrong in the incident. Then, they indicted Williams for Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official, Felony Flee to Elude Arrest, Reckless Driver to Endanger, and Habitual Felon.

Williams had to go to the hospital that night to be treated for his injuries. Brister has been on paid administrative leave.