ButteNews.net
July 20, 2023
At roughly noon on Wednesday July 19, Zachariah Bartsch allegedly injured a police dog and assaulted a police officer in an attempt to resist arrest on a felony warrant, Sheriff Ed Lester said in an email.
A Butte-Silver Bow police officer was investigating an unrelated matter on the 1900 block of Silver Bow Blvd. when Bartsch approached him, the release said.
Recognizing Bartsch, the officer attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Bartsch allegedly assaulted the officer and then fled. The officer finished his initial investigation and then joined other officers in the search for Bartsch.
A Montana Highway Patrol trooper was in the area, and he had a canine with him that was trained in tracking and apprehension. Bartsch was found a few blocks away from the initial incident. He was on the 2100 block of Grand Avenue.
At that time Bartsch attempted to flee on a bicycle. The trooper unleashed the dog. The canine caught up with the fleeing suspect and took him off the bike. Bartsch allegedly assaulted the dog, injuring its leg. He tussled with pursuing officers as well, but was apprehended and taken to the jail.
The suspect has been charged with Resisting Arrest, Criminal Contempt, Harming a Police Dog, Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Assault on a Peace Officer. He is currently being held at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center.
The extent of the dog’s injury is not known, the sheriff wrote.
