A routine weekend afternoon at Riverside City Plaza turned tense on Sunday after a police K9 briefly lunged at a pregnant woman, prompting immediate intervention by the dog’s handler and drawing shocked reactions from dozens of onlookers.
According to preliminary statements from the Riverside Police Department, the incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m., when officers were conducting a public safety patrol with a trained German Shepherd K9 partner. The dog, outfitted in a harness labeled “POLICE K9,” was being handled by a female officer assigned to the department’s canine division.
Witnesses reported that the K9 suddenly became agitated as it passed near a woman standing at the base of the plaza steps. The woman, described by bystanders as visibly pregnant and dressed in a long navy blue dress with a white collar, appeared startled as the dog reared upward. The animal’s front paws briefly contacted her abdomen before the handler forcefully pulled the dog back under control.
“She looked shocked and scared,” said one witness, who was among the large crowd gathered on the plaza steps. “Everyone gasped because it happened so fast.”
Several people recorded the moment on their phones, capturing the handler struggling to restrain the dog as it barked loudly in what appeared to be high-alert behavior. The handler, wearing a tactical vest and olive-green duty pants, quickly regained control and moved the dog away from the woman while additional officers stepped in to check on her.
Police officials stated that the woman did not report injuries at the scene but was offered medical evaluation, which she declined. She left the area after speaking briefly with officers.
The Riverside Police Department has confirmed that an internal review of the K9’s behavior and training protocols is underway. A spokesperson emphasized that the department takes all K9-related incidents seriously and will examine footage and handler reports to determine what triggered the dog’s reaction.
“It’s our priority to ensure the safety of both community members and our officers,” the spokesperson said. “We are reviewing all circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Crowds eventually dispersed after the situation de-escalated, though many expressed concern and confusion over what they witnessed.
“I’ve never seen a police dog act like that in public,” one bystander said. “People were really shaken.”
No further updates have been released, and the K9 unit involved has been temporarily reassigned pending the department’s findings.
