Riverside County Sheriff's Deputies Remember K-9 Officer Killed By Suspect In Hemet

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Members of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department gathered Friday to remember the K-9 officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week.

The dog, a Shepherd-mix named Sultan, was with his handler from the San Jacinto Police Department when he was shot by an armed suspect Wednesday.

Todd Hodge, 36, who was a convicted felon, had barricaded himself around 2:30 p.m. at a home in the 40200 block of Clark Drive on the border of Hemet and San Jacinto, officials said.

When Sultan and his handler arrived on scene, the canine was sent into a crawlspace underneath the residence.

"Moments later an indistinguishable noise was heard, and K9 Sultan returned from the crawl space with an injury to his neck," Dep. Albert Martinez said in a statement.

The dog was immediately taken to local veterinarian hospital where he died.

After a 9-hour standoff, Hodge, who was armed with a handgun, was killed by deputies.

Sultan's death was the first time a K-9 officer had been killed in the line of duty in Riverside County.

He began his service with the San Jacinto Police Department in 2013 and was regarded as the force's top K-9.