Woman set dog on police officer during cemetery arrest

The 44-year-old attempted to stop an arrest before setting her dog on the officer.

Woman set dog on police officer during cemetery arrestGoogle Maps

A woman set her dog on a police officer who was making an arrest in a Glasgow cemetery.

Michelle Copeland’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier attacked PC Lisa McPhail on May 26 this year.

Police were called to a separate incident at Cardonald Cemetery when they were approached by the 44-year-old who had tied her dog at a nearby fence.

Officers were taking a man into custody when Copeland yelled at them to leave him alone and threatened them with the dog.

Prosecutor Kyle Dalziel told the court: “She became aggressive towards officers and told them ‘get to f**k, I’m done f*****ing talking to you. I’ll set my dog on you’.

“She then went to kick and bang the police vehicle before shouting ‘I’ll get my dog to attack you’. 

“Officers warned her not to let the dog off the lead but she went back and released it.”

The terrier ran towards PC McPhail and bit her on her left leg, leaving her with a bruised groin.

She was later given antibiotics and tetanus shot.

Copeland, of the city’s Bellahouston, pled guilty to assault at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday. 

Sheriff Allan McKay sentenced her to a community pay back order and restriction of liberty order, where she must be her house from 9am to 9pm.

The sheriff told Copeland: “This is an alternative to custody.”

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