The decision to deploy a K-9 in response to a fight at Mayfair Mall Friday night is drawing increasing criticism of the appropriate use of force after multiple videos show a security officer struggling to get the animal to release its bite on a civilian.In one of the first videos posted to Facebook by user Jessiano Ortiz, a security officer with a “K-9 Unit” patch on his vest is seen kneeling over the unidentified civilian, who is on their back outside Forever 21, as the K9 bites the person’s right ankle.”The dog bit her,” a woman can be heard saying in the 34-second clip.The video shows the security officer try to use his left hand to get the dog to release its bite. The animal lets go for a fraction of a second before it bites the person’s ankle again. The video shows the security officer using both hands to attempt pry the dog’s grip as well as yanking on its leash, but he is unsuccessful by the time the clip ends. “He’s locked on,” another witness is heard saying in the video.”I thought they trained them,” the woman watching the incident says in the clip. “He ain’t letting go.”Just before the clip ends, five members of the mall security team in neon uniform shirts are seen surrounding the K-9 handler. Two of them hold the civilian’s arms as the handler tries to get the dog to release.A caption on the posted clip said, “They was fighting. He let the K-9 on her and it locked on her.”In seeking clarification and context to the incident from Wauwatosa police, the law enforcement agency which has jurisdictional coverage of the mall, WISN 12 shared video with a public information officer.”Officers were dispatched to the mall around 6:17 p.m. for the report of a fight,” a statement from Wauwatosa police Lt. Corey Wex responded Saturday, adding, “However, when the officers arrived, security advised the fight ended and all parties left the property. Mall security did not request any police enforcement for the disorderly behavior.”The lieutenant’s statement also said mall security did not inform police of the specific incident involving the K-9 bite.”There was no mention of a dog bite,” Wex said in the emailed statement.”After reviewing this video, we will be following up regarding the incident to include the dog bite and the events leading up to and following it. To be clear, no Wauwatosa officers or Wauwatosa K-9s were involved in this incident,” he added.A separate pair of videos posted to the 414hypehouse Instagram account appears to show what happened near the end or immediately after the Ortiz video.The first clip in the pair shows the K-9 handler trying to get the dog to release its bite while the other security team members hold the kneeling civilian’s arms. The handler is again unsuccessful in getting the animal to release for the entire 43-second clip. By the time the second clip in the 414hyphouse pair of videos begins, the dog had released the civilian’s ankle and security officers help the unidentified person to their feet. The K9 handler makes what appears to be a shrugging motion to the animal before the handler stands up and the 11-second clip ends.It is immediately unclear what, if any role, the unidentified civilian may or may not have played in the disturbance which led to the security response. A dispatch audio recording of the service call to police provides a physical description of a person identified as the aggressor, but it did not completely match the person whom the K-9 bit.”The aggressor is a female, Black, wearing a pink bonnet, has blue PJ pants and a gray zip up,” the dispatcher told responding police officers. The civilian in the videos did not appear to be wearing a bonnet or blue pants. While the police department confirmed neither the K-9 handler nor the animal were members of the law enforcement agency, a patch on the handler’s shoulder appeared to match the patch on the other security officers’ Andy Frain uniforms.Representatives for Brookfield Properties, which operates Mayfair Mall, and neither Andy Frain Services responded to requests for comment about the incident or the use of force or training for K-9 security officers.It was also not immediately clear if the K-9 handler and officer were part of the recently deployed Vapor Wake Public Safety Canine Detection Program. Following a 2020 shooting at Mayfair, officials began using the program where K-9s were trained to detect all types of firearms in an effort to track down a person carrying a gun in a crowd.If you have video of the K9 biting incident from Friday, March 28, at Mayfair Mall, contact Investigative Reporter Derrick Rose at derrick.rose@hearst.com or by calling 414-403-5769. This is a developing story and will be updated as information is learned and becomes available.
The decision to deploy a K-9 in response to a fight at Mayfair Mall Friday night is drawing increasing criticism of the appropriate use of force after multiple videos show a security officer struggling to get the animal to release its bite on a civilian.
In one of the first videos posted to Facebook by user Jessiano Ortiz, a security officer with a “K-9 Unit” patch on his vest is seen kneeling over the unidentified civilian, who is on their back outside Forever 21, as the K9 bites the person’s right ankle.
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“The dog bit her,” a woman can be heard saying in the 34-second clip.
The video shows the security officer try to use his left hand to get the dog to release its bite. The animal lets go for a fraction of a second before it bites the person’s ankle again. The video shows the security officer using both hands to attempt pry the dog’s grip as well as yanking on its leash, but he is unsuccessful by the time the clip ends.
“He’s locked on,” another witness is heard saying in the video.
“I thought they trained them,” the woman watching the incident says in the clip. “He ain’t letting go.”
Just before the clip ends, five members of the mall security team in neon uniform shirts are seen surrounding the K-9 handler. Two of them hold the civilian’s arms as the handler tries to get the dog to release.
A caption on the posted clip said, “They was fighting. He let the K-9 on her and it locked on her.”
In seeking clarification and context to the incident from Wauwatosa police, the law enforcement agency which has jurisdictional coverage of the mall, WISN 12 shared video with a public information officer.
“Officers were dispatched to the mall around 6:17 p.m. for the report of a fight,” a statement from Wauwatosa police Lt. Corey Wex responded Saturday, adding, “However, when the officers arrived, security advised the fight ended and all parties left the property. Mall security did not request any police enforcement for the disorderly behavior.”
The lieutenant’s statement also said mall security did not inform police of the specific incident involving the K-9 bite.
“There was no mention of a dog bite,” Wex said in the emailed statement.
“After reviewing this video, we will be following up regarding the incident to include the dog bite and the events leading up to and following it. To be clear, no Wauwatosa officers or Wauwatosa K-9s were involved in this incident,” he added.
A separate pair of videos posted to the 414hypehouse Instagram account appears to show what happened near the end or immediately after the Ortiz video.
The first clip in the pair shows the K-9 handler trying to get the dog to release its bite while the other security team members hold the kneeling civilian’s arms. The handler is again unsuccessful in getting the animal to release for the entire 43-second clip.
By the time the second clip in the 414hyphouse pair of videos begins, the dog had released the civilian’s ankle and security officers help the unidentified person to their feet.
The K9 handler makes what appears to be a shrugging motion to the animal before the handler stands up and the 11-second clip ends.
It is immediately unclear what, if any role, the unidentified civilian may or may not have played in the disturbance which led to the security response. A dispatch audio recording of the service call to police provides a physical description of a person identified as the aggressor, but it did not completely match the person whom the K-9 bit.
“The aggressor is a female, Black, wearing a pink bonnet, has blue PJ pants and a gray zip up,” the dispatcher told responding police officers. The civilian in the videos did not appear to be wearing a bonnet or blue pants.
While the police department confirmed neither the K-9 handler nor the animal were members of the law enforcement agency, a patch on the handler’s shoulder appeared to match the patch on the other security officers’ Andy Frain uniforms.
Representatives for Brookfield Properties, which operates Mayfair Mall, and neither Andy Frain Services responded to requests for comment about the incident or the use of force or training for K-9 security officers.
It was also not immediately clear if the K-9 handler and officer were part of the recently deployed Vapor Wake Public Safety Canine Detection Program. Following a 2020 shooting at Mayfair, officials began using the program where K-9s were trained to detect all types of firearms in an effort to track down a person carrying a gun in a crowd.
If you have video of the K9 biting incident from Friday, March 28, at Mayfair Mall, contact Investigative Reporter Derrick Rose at derrick.rose@hearst.com or by calling 414-403-5769.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information is learned and becomes available.
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