Memorial Service Scheduled For VCSO K-9 Killed Trying To Subdue Armed Suspect

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sheriff-k-9-shirt Deltona, FL - 12/8/16 Update: VCSO has learned from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that in November 22's shooting that left K-9 Forest dead, Eddie Powell, the defendant, was armed but did not fire his gun - Forest was tragically killed by friendly fire. VCSO met with FDLE on Thursday to get a status report on the ongoing investigation into that incident. Powell was armed during both shootings that happened on that day, but there's no evidence that he fired his weapon. During the initial shooting 2 deputies fired their weapons as Powel fought with K-9 Forest while pointing a gun at 1 of the deputies. Forest sustained 2 gunshot wounds during the incident. It's not yet known which deputy fired the rounds that hit the K-9. “Sadly, unintended consequences sometimes occur in shooting situations,” said Sheriff Johnson. “This doesn’t change the fact that Forest died a hero while trying to subdue a dangerous gunman. Our deputies were put into a deadly threat situation and were forced to defend themselves. As far as I’m concerned, Eddie Powell is responsible for the death of Forest just as surely as if he had pulled the trigger.” Powell's being held at the Volusia County Jail on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. Additionally, he's being held on a probation violation out of Georgia. VCSO will be filing additional charges of aggravated assault ona  law enforcement officer and battery on a police dog. Earlier Reporting: VCSO will hold a memorial service on Friday to honor the K-9 that was killed in the line of duty on November 22 while trying to subdue an armed suspect. The tribute to K-9 Forest will begin on Friday morning with a processional in Deltona, where he served. Forest's handler, Deputy Brandon Ellis, will lead the processional which will be made up of K-9 units from the Sheriff's Office and local police departments. The processional will leave Deltona at noon on a 13.4-mile route to the memorial site at the Tommy Lawrence Arena at the Volusia County Fairgrounds on E New York Ave in DeLand. The memorial service will start at 1 PM and will feature speakers including Sheriff Ben Johnson, Deputy Ellis, Deltona K-9 Unit Supervisor Sergeant Brodie Hughes, and Senior Deputy Michael Webb, who's the lead instructor for VCSO's K-9 unit. The memorial service is open to the public, and residents are being encouraged to line up along the processional route, which can be found on VCSO's Facebook page, as it passes through Deltona. k-9-forest-end-of-watch

(Photo courtesy VCSO)

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