Two Branford police officers and the department's K9, Joker, were injured Saturday after a suspect fought them during a domestic dispute arrest at Branford Motel. The three police department members have recovered; while the suspect headed to court this morning with charges of animal cruelty, assault on an officer and interferring with an officer added charges received for what police termed a "violent" domestic dispute with his girlfriend.

In related news, as reported earlier at Zip06, a special fundraising night will take place April 10 in Branford to fund a ballistic vest for K9 Joker. The custom vest is bullet resistant and stab resistant, see more on the Branford Exchange Club effort here

Details of Saturday's arrest were issued in the following press release from Branford Police.

Monday, April 4, 2016: Louis Ortiz, 38 (DOB 1/7/1978) of 470 East Main Street, Branford was arrested Saturday evening, just before 9 p.m., after police received an E-911 call that Ortiz was involved in a violent domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the Branford Motel (470 East Main Street).

When police arrived, Officers Jay Kaufman, Mathew Clerkin, Luigi Amasino, and Officer Amasino's K9 partner, Joker, encountered Ortiz on the second floor balcony of the motel. As Officer Kaufman tried to take Ortiz into custody, Ortiz became combative and non-compliant with officers' commands. Ortiz lunged at K9 Joker and was eventually subdued by Joker and the officers; however Ortiz tried to choke the K9 and continually fought with the officers. Officers Amasino, Clerkin and Joker were all injured during the altercation. The officers were treated at an area medical facility and released with minor injuries. Officer Amasino reported that Joker didn't require medical attention.

Ortiz was transported by Branford Fire Department Paramedics to a medical facility for treatment and was later released to police.

Ortiz was charged with Breach of Peace, Assault 3rd, two (2) counts of Threatening, Interfering with Officer, Cruelty to Animals, and Assault on Officer. He was held on a $10,000 bond and was arraigned in New Haven Court this morning.