COLUMBUS – Police say a Columbus officer was taken to the hospital after being bitten by a coyote on the East Side Thursday night.
The officer was assisting with traffic control where a motorist had broken down at S. Hamilton Road and I-70 at approximately 7:23 p.m. when the animal the officer and bit his right knee, according to a post on the Division of Police Facebook page.
UPDATE 1/17/20 3:36 p.m.: This article has been edited to include additional information.
The officer, identified as Ofc. James Tripp, a 32-year-veteran of the division, was able to mace the coyote and strike it a few times as other officers were responding, police said.
The coyote charged at other officers and ran into a wooded area after being struck by an officer’s Taser the animal continued to display aggressive behavior and was shot to death by to prevent it from attacking anyone else, police said.
Animal Control personnel responded and recovered the deceased coyote for testing to determine if it had rabies or any other disease that would cause it to display this unusual behavior, police officials said.
Tripp sustained multiple bite wounds to his right knee and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.