Alabama man bites police K-9 during arrest in Florence, United States.
NEWS:
An Alabama man was arrested after police said he disrupted a drug task force operation in Florence, resisted officers and bit a police K-9 during the struggle.
The incident happened on April 22, 2026, in the 200 block of North Locust Street in Florence, Alabama. Police identified the man as David Culliver, 46, of Sheffield.
Florence police said the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant at the location with assistance from the Florence-Lauderdale SWAT team and the Florence Police Department K-9 Unit. Police said Culliver was not a target of the search warrant and was not connected to the investigation being carried out at the home.
According to the police account, Culliver arrived at the scene, began yelling at officers and repeatedly entered the roadway while traffic was moving. Officers told him several times to get out of the road. Police said he did not comply and continued disrupting the operation.
Bodycam footage released by police shows officers trying to detain Culliver during the encounter. The footage shows a physical struggle near a vehicle as officers attempt to bring him under control. A police K-9 is deployed during the arrest and bites Culliver on the leg.
The video shows Culliver grabbing the dog and biting the K-9 back while officers order him to let go. Officers strike Culliver to make him release the dog. The footage confirms the bite against the police dog and the struggle with officers during the arrest.
The video does not establish Culliver’s blood-alcohol level, drug test results or full medical condition at the time. Police described him as intoxicated and behaving erratically. He was later charged with public intoxication.
Florence Police Chief Mike Holt said Culliver made verbal threats toward officers and physically resisted arrest. Holt said multiple officers were unable to gain control of him before the K-9 was used. He also said officers were concerned Culliver could regain access to his vehicle, creating a safety risk.
Police said the K-9 deployment was used to prevent the situation from escalating into a higher level of force. Holt said the department reviewed the incident and determined the use of force was justified under department policy and applicable law.
The arrest drew attention after video from the scene circulated online. Some community members questioned the use of the police dog. City Council President Kaytrina Simmons said residents contacted her with concerns about the incident, particularly the moment when the K-9 was used against Culliver.
Simmons said she spoke with Chief Holt after residents raised concerns. She said the use of the dog still did not sit well with her, even after viewing the police perspective. Holt maintained that the K-9 deployment was within policy and was necessary under the circumstances officers faced.
Culliver was taken to North Alabama Medical Center for treatment of puncture wounds from the dog bite before being booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center.
Police said Culliver was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interfering with a police dog. Local reports said he was being held on a $2,500 bond after the arrest.
The charges are accusations. No public court record was found confirming a plea, conviction, dismissal, trial date or final ruling in the case.
No verified public update was found describing the K-9’s medical condition after the bite. Available reports did not identify the dog by name or state whether the animal required veterinary treatment.
The confirmed public record is limited to the police video, the police account of the arrest, the listed charges, the reported bond and the later public concern over the K-9 deployment. No later verified court outcome was found.
News story written by DarkGore.
