Lakewood police sued again for now-retired police dog

LAKEWOOD, Wash. (AP) — A 23-year-old Pierce County man is suing the Lakewood Police Department, claiming he was mauled in 2012 by a now-retired police dog.

The Seattle Times reports that Kerry Tucker claims in a federal civil-rights lawsuit filed Wednesday that he was attacked for no reason by K-9 Officer Astor, a large-breed police dog.

A Lakewood police spokesman said the facts in the filing are misleading, but otherwise declined to comment.

This is the most recent in a series of lawsuits filed against Astor. Three other people have sued and received settlements as a result of Astor attacks.

Astor was retired by the city and sold to his handler, Officer James Syler for $1 in fall 2013.