Man Allegedly Brutally Attacks, Hurls Homophobic Slurs At Man Before Kicking Dog Repeatedly

A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged after allegedly brutally attacking two victims and a police dog in Palo Alto, California, earlier this month, police said.

The suspect, identified as Alexander Joseph Furrier of Palo Alto, was charged with felony battery, felony hate crime, felony assault on a police dog and resisting arrest for the Oct. 10 attacks, KPIX 5 reported.

Police in Palo Alto responded to the area of University Avenue and Waverly Street on Oct. 10 after reports of a fight and found two victims, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s. Both were not named in the report.

The man had lost consciousness and suffered a laceration to the back of his head, police said. He was rushed to a local hospital to receive treatment, but his current condition is unclear. The female victim was not injured.

Furrier and the woman knew each other and were at a downtown bar and at a house party with some friends earlier in the night. The woman left the party with the male victim and another man, both of whom she identified as gay.

Furrier allegedly followed them and hurled homophobic slurs at the men, according to police. The men later parted ways with the woman when they got to the intersection, but the suspect allegedly stayed with her despite her telling him to leave her alone.

The male victim returned and told Furrier to leave the woman alone. The suspect then allegedly punched the other man several times and continued directing homophobic remarks at him.

The woman tried to intervene, but Furrier allegedly threw her to the ground, police said.

The suspect fled on foot when police arrived. Furrier was found hiding in a stairwell at an apartment complex about two blocks away.

Officers and members of a crisis negotiation team tried to persuade Furrier to surrender. When the suspect refused to comply, cops brought in a police dog to help take Furrier into custody.

Furrier kicked the dog repeatedly and attempted to choke the canine, police alleged. The suspect was eventually apprehended after the dog bit him in the leg.

The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of multiple lacerations and the wound on his leg before being taken into custody. The dog had a cut above one of his eyes and may have injured a paw.

Furrier is now being held at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas without bail. He appeared in court last week.