Rocky Mount woman charged after Henry County K-9 stabbed
Henry County K-9 Zago was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a woman after she fled the scene of a hit-and-run crash on Monday.
MARTINSVILLE — A Rocky Mount woman faces three charges after authorities said she fled a two-vehicle hit-and-run crash Monday and later threatened law enforcement officers with a blade before stabbing a Henry County Sheriff’s Office K-9.
Taran Irene Maddy, 43, is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, injuring a police animal and obstruction of justice, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Maddy was taken into custody and airlifted to a trauma center for treatment of injuries authorities said were caused by less-lethal impact munitions and K-9 bites.
A Virginia State Police trooper who spoke with reporters at the scene said the two-car crash occurred at about 12:38 p.m. north of a Dodge dealership and south of a Nelson dealership collision center.
The trooper said a witness called 911 and continued providing information about one of the drivers, a barefoot woman who fled on foot. The information led officers to a wooded area near the crash scene. The Sheriff’s Office said its deputies assisted State Police with the apprehension at about 2:35 p.m.
Sheriff Wayne Davis said deputies, including a K-9 team, joined troopers in searching the area and locating the woman.
Authorities said troopers and deputies repeatedly tried to de-escalate the encounter and get her to cooperate. During the confrontation, the woman produced an edged weapon believed to be a box cutter or razor-style knife and threatened officers with violence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
She refused officers’ commands and continued escalating the encounter, authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office’s written release and Davis’ comments at the scene provide different details about when less-lethal impact munitions were used.
The release said officers deployed the munitions in an unsuccessful attempt to gain compliance before releasing K-9 Zajo to help apprehend Maddy. During the apprehension, authorities said Maddy stabbed Zajo multiple times.
At the scene, however, Davis said the woman was struck with less-lethal impact munitions on at least two occasions after she stabbed the dog. The available information does not make clear whether the munitions were used both before and after Zajo’s deployment.
Davis described Maddy’s injuries from the less-lethal rounds as “fairly substantial,” but said they were not believed to be life-threatening. She was flown to the trauma center for additional evaluation.
Zajo suffered at least one puncture wound near or above an eye and a substantial facial laceration, Davis said. The dog was taken to a local veterinary provider for treatment.
“We are confident, based on what we know now, the dog will make a full recovery and return to service here at the Sheriff’s Office,” Davis said at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office identified Zajo as Deputy Logan Grubbs' K-9 partner in a social media post. The agency said the dog was expected to recover and thanked community members for their support.
Virginia law makes maliciously stabbing, wounding or otherwise injuring a police animal while it is performing its duties a Class 5 felony.
Davis commended the troopers and deputies involved and credited the witness whose information helped authorities locate Maddy.
“Our deputies and the Virginia State Police made every effort to de-escalate this situation and gain compliance before the K-9 was deployed,” Davis said in the release.
State Police is the primary agency investigating the crash. As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities had not publicly identified the other driver, disclosed whether anyone was injured in the collision or announced any charges arising from the crash itself. The Sheriff’s Office said State Police would release additional information as appropriate.
