A Man who jumped off San Diego’s Coronado Bridge Killing Police Dog Gets Prison Sentence
In the Vista courthouse today, a man is sentenced to 44 months in prison. On New Year’s Eve 2007 he was driving under the influence and led San Diego Police officers on a chase that ended with him jumping off the Coronado Bay Bridge with a police dog.
Vista Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman sentenced Cory Byron, 28, to 44 months in state prison which is the maximum amount of time under the plea agreement.
Byron pleaded guilty to one count each of felony evading and DUI, driving under the influence. He also has previous DUI charges from 2003 and 2005. Byron pleaded no contest to harming a service animal.
Byron who seemed drunk was seen swerving in and out of lanes in his pickup truck by Oceanside Police Officer Kedrick Sadler on State Route 76. When the officer activated his lights and siren Byron didn’t stop, instead he proceeded on State Route 76, running several red lights and hitting a car at College Avenue. He then turned South on Interstate 5, exited Pershing Drive and made a U-turn back onto the freeway according to Officer Sadler.
After driving onto the Coronado Bridge, the defendant struck a wall and got out of his vehicle. Officer Sadler said it looked as though Byron was going to run so he deployed Stryker his police dog after demanding Byron to stay put.
As Stryker was gripping the defendant’s arm it looked as though Byron was trying to fling the dog over the wall. As Officer Sadler tried to get to the dog, Byron put his leg onto the barrier and went over the side of the bridge with Stryker.
Byron was hospitalized with injuries. Stryker was buried at Camp Pendleton.
During sentencing Cory Byron admitted he was drunk. His blood alcohol level was measured at .17 four hours after the accident.
Web Related Resources
Man Who Killed Police Dog In Chase Sentenced, 10news.com, February 18,2009
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