A man stabbed and “gravely injured” a K9 unit during a barricade situation in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, Police Chief Adrian Vasquez announced at a press conference.

K9 Roam and his handler were on the scene where a man barricaded himself in a residence in the 7400 block of Gorgeted Quail Grove. The man stabbed Roam during a confrontation after police made contact. 

The suspect was struck with a chemical agent and tased before being taken into custody. No officers were injured in the incident. 

Roam was transported to an emergency veterinary facility and remains there in critical condition. He underwent surgery Wednesday evening after multiple blood transfusions.

Law enforcement dogs from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Police Department and Colorado Department of Corrections were made available to aid with the blood transfusions, according to Vasquez.

“They aren’t just a partner, they’re buddies, they truly become buddies,” Vasquez said. “I had a K9 [and] they are with you so much, so often, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They become part of his family, and they’re part of the CSPD family.

“My heart goes out to our officer, and I ask that you keep Roam, our officer and his family in your thoughts and in your prayers.”

Veterinarian Abby Sticker, one of the people taking care of Roam, said during the press conference he was stabbed in the head, neck and abdomen and will lose his left hind limb due to the injuries.

“I do feel that the next 24 hours are going to be pretty critical to see if he’s able to pull through for this,” Sticker said.

CSPD has stab-proof vests for K9 units that were donated, but they are not equipped for dogs younger than 20 months old and Roam is 18 months old, according to Vasquez.

The suspect, Anthony Bryant, 30, was charged with burglary, obstruction, resisting arrest and attempted felony aggravated cruelty to law enforcement animals, according to CSPD Public Relations Manager Ira Cronin.

District Attorney for Colorado’s 4th Judicial District Michael Allen said a felony could be added if Roam does not survive due to the signing in 2024 of HB 1074, which specified a separate Class 4 felony if someone “knowingly or recklessly” kills or harms a law enforcement animal.

The bill did not change the penalties associated with harming or killing a law enforcement animal, which already carried a fine of up to $500,000 and up to six years in prison, according to previous reporting by The Gazette.

Roam is the first certified firearms detection dog in the department and joined earlier this year.