Utah police airlift injured K9 100 miles to Las Vegas for emergency surgery

Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A Utah police dog was airlifted 100 miles to an animal hospital in Las Vegas after it was shot in the jaw during a carjacking incident Tuesday night.

Officials used a helicopter to transport "Tess," a veteran K9 with the Washington County Sheriff's Department from St. George, Utah to Las Vegas. Traffic in a busy intersection of the city was temporarily shut down in order to allow the helicopter to land near the animal hospital.

Tess underwent surgery and was released Wednesday afternoon. She is in stable condition.

Tess was working with officers responding to a carjacking in St. George. The suspect allegedly refused to exit the vehicle and officers had Tess enter the vehicle to help apprehend the suspect, who then opened fire on the K9.

"Once he shot the dog, they saw the muzzle flash and they perceived a deadly force threat so, they engaged him," said Washington County Critical Incident Task Force Investigations Director Barry Golding, according to the St. George News.

Police shot the suspect multiple times. He was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover.