Video shows Santa Fe police officer bitten by K-9, shot during confrontation
SANTA FE, N.M. — New video is showing how a tense situation unfolded when police tried to arrest a suspect in Santa Fe last year.
According to the Santa Fe Police Department, 35-year-old Rick Chavez led officers on a chase down Don Quixote Road in March of last year. Police said Chavez had 10 active arrest warrants, including probation violations, burglary and aggravated assault on a police officer.
Newly released lapel and dashcam video shows officer Charles Ovalle responding to the shooting. Then, minutes later, video shows Ayke, a K-9 officer, biting Ovalle on the forearm and other officers are heard trying to help him.
On the other side of the shooting, video shows Ayke’s handler releasing him. Then, Chavez and a second suspect, identified by SFPD as George Theragood, are shot – and so is Ovalle.
Video shows Akye’s handler and another officer talking afterward about what happened.
For Ayke, this isn’t the first time he’s bitten an officer.
In 2022, an SFPD officer Damian Vigil claimed Ayke attacked his face during a training exercise. In 2023, Vigil filed a lawsuit against SFPD and the City of Santa Fe.
The lawsuit claims Vigil was pressured to play the suspect and that he was told the dog was trained not to bite above the shoulders. Vigil said he wanted to grab his riot helmet but wasn’t allowed to.
The lawsuit also claims Ayke bit Vigil’s arm and dragged him to the ground before attacking his face. The lawsuit alleges Vigil needed extensive surgery to repair his face. It also alleges Ayke attacked a suspect similarly six months before the demonstration.
An SFPD spokesperson said Ayke is still on full duty status, as well as all of the officers in the March shooting and Vigil.
Vigil’s attorney, Adrian Vega, issued the following statement to KOB 4:
“It was entirely predictable that an injury like Damian’s would occur as the dog had previously improperly attacked other individuals. Damian should never have been placed in that terrifying situation by the department. It is appalling that this department continues to use this dog despite a series of horrific, vicious attacks on its own officers and civilians. With the jury’s help, this lawsuit will change the toxic culture within the Santa Fe police department so it can get back to being a positive force within the city of Santa Fe.”
We reached out to the Santa Fe Police Department about both incidents. An SFPD spokesperson said New Mexico State Police is investigating the shooting and that the department is waiting for the findings.
The City of Santa Fe declined to comment on the active lawsuit.
The case was scheduled to go to trial Monday, but was moved back until November.