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Grand Rapids Duo Charged After Montcalm Co. Shooting, K-9 Stabbing

A Michigan State Police K-9 is recovering after tracking down two suspects wanted for a drive by shooting.

State police say one of them stabbed the K-9.

Jose Perez Junior is now charged with causing serious injury to a police dog along with weapons charges.

Victoria Groth faces two counts of resisting a police officer.

Troopers say the situation started at a home near Howard City in Montcalm County early Sunday morning.

State police say the shooting happened at a home near Howard City. The homeowner didn’t want to go on camera but says Groth and Perez Jr. showed up, sent him a text message and fired several shots into the ground.

State police tracked them through text messages to a Howard City gas station.

"Honestly it’s a testament to our guys decisive action they located these guys quickly, pursued them until they were in custody,” said Lt. Rob Davis of the Michigan State Police.

From there troopers chased the pair to this wooded area, across the street from Sharon DeZwaan’s house.

“It was 5:45, typical morning, coffee and the rest of it, walked in to my living room and saw three units with their red lights on, saw the two other units showing up for that direction. After a while we start seeing more officers come out of the woods located right behind us and they were coming out with a gentleman they had him down on his knees in the middle of the road,” recalled DeZwaan.

Court documents say Perez Jr. stabbed Bolt the K-9.

“This situation could have ended a lot worse, and it also highlights the dangers to our K-9’s. They’re typically on a regular basis asked to go to dark places and look for dangerous people and they do so without hesitation,” noted Davis.

Bolt is expected to recover and be back in service soon.

Groth and Perez Jr. are due back in court next week. 

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