*WARNING: The body camera video may be disturbing to some. 

GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) has released body camera video from an incident involving a K-9 in which an innocent homeless person was attacked and bitten.

The video which is more than an hour long shows the search for a man police say was wanted on a domestic violence charge and is a repeat felony offender.

GPD says it’s releasing the footage after an internal review of the incident. GPD’s K-9 unit was recently reinstated on Monday, Jan. 22.

What happened

Police say they responded to a call regarding a felony domestic violence incident in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 23.

“The suspect was known to officers as a multiple time convicted violent felony offender, on felony probation, and wearing a court ordered ankle monitor,” said GPD in a Facebook post.

Police say the man, later identified as 27-year-old Dovico Miles Jr., was at a home and refused to come outside. The video shows officers speaking to the man through a window and attempting to persuade him to come out.

The body cam video shows officers speaking to the man they have a warrant to arrest on domestic violence charges. Courtesy: GPD

Officers ask the man what happened between him and his “girl.”

The man tells officers they “got into it.”

“We had some words and she left,” said the man on the body camera footage.

“You’re not going to come be accountable for what happened?” asks an officer.
“What happened?” responds the man.
“More than just words. That’s what I’m getting from her.”
Officers tell the man that the woman has injuries to back up her claims of domestic violence.
A little more than four minutes into the video, the man shuts the window.
Officers say he slipped out a sliding glass door.
“He’s running,” said an officer.

They take off running after the man.

“The suspect evaded officers and per department policy, a tactical perimeter was set up and additional resources were brought to the scene including a K-9 team,” said GPD.

GPD says the shift commander authorized the use of the K-9 which they say is an approved use per department policy.

At approximately 3:08 a.m., police made loud public address system announcements, instructing the man he was under arrest.

“You need to surrender now to the nearest police officer,” said an officer. “Or a police dog will be sent in to find you and he will bite you,” the officer warns over the loud speaker at 24 minutes into the video.

After receiving no response, police searched for the man using the K-9.

At 3:26 a.m. in the area of 3131 NW 13th Street, police say the K-9 located evidence alongside a building.

“Oh an ankle monitor. We’re around the front. We have his ankle monitor and a sock up here,” said the K-9 handler. She praises the K-9. “Good job. God job buddy.”

Moments later, the K-9 leads officers to some bushes.

The body cam video shows the K-9 charging into the bushes on the handler’s command. Courtesy: GPD

“Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands,” commands an officer.

GPD says officers gave the K-9 immediate commands and the dog goes into the bushes and that’s followed by screams from a person.

“Please stop! Please stop!” begs the person.

“He’s ripping my leg off,” yells the person. “Oh God!” the person cries out.

The person turned out to be a homeless woman who suffered bites to her leg and thumb. Courtesy: GPD

GPD says once it was determined that the individual was not the suspect, the K-9 was immediately withdrawn.

The Victim

GPD says officers provided comfort to the woman until EMS arrived. They say she was treated by healthcare professionals at a local hospital.

“After her release, follow up support and resources were offered to the victim in order to aid in her recovery,” said police.

GPD says the department continues its commitment to transparency and accountability.

“A preliminary internal review of the incident revealed that K-9 policy and deployment protocols were followed,” said GPD.

The Suspect

GPD says Dovico Miles Jr. surrendered to the Alachua County Jail on March 27 and was charged with Felony Domestic Battery– Repeat Offender.

Miles is currently being held with no bond.

Police say 27-year-old Dovico Miles Jr. Miles surrendered to the Alachua County Jail on March 27, 2024, and was charged with Felony Domestic Battery. Courtesy: Alachua County Jail

History of GPD’s K-9 Unit

GPD’s K-9 unit came under fire in late 2022 following an incident where a man was mauled and lost an eye.

In March 2023, the Gainesville City Manager scaled back use of the unit to limited capacity along with new guidelines.

As mentioned earlier, the unit only went back to full deployment in January of 2024.