Champ the Cass County K9 is stabbed in the neck while on duty

A Cass County law enforcement officer was stabbed in the neck Monday evening, but he is reported to be resting at home.

Champ, a K9 police dog, and his handler were helping Harrisonville police in the pursuit of a stealing suspect near the Walmart in Harrisonville. The sheriff’s deputy and Champ found the suspect in the 2400 block of Rock Haven Road. He kept running, and Champ followed him into a field.

The deputy lost sight of them both but then heard a bark and a yelp, and Champ soon returned.

The suspect was arrested a short time later, and the deputy then found blood in the kennel area of his patrol car.

Champ was taken to a vet in Raymore who found a 1.5-inch knife wound on the side of his neck. The injury is not life-threatening.

The sheriff’s office later identified the suspect Tuesday as Zachary T. Wilbanks, 17, of Harrisonville.

Wilbanks was charged with resisting or interfering with an arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, and assault on a police animal, a Class C misdemeanor. He was issued a signature bond for those charges.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said the 17-year-old suspect was being held in the Belton Police Department jail on separate municipal charges from the city of Harrisonville.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Champ the Cass County K9 is stabbed in the neck while on duty."