The police K9 who was shot in the face during an incident that left a police officer and a suspect dead has been released from the hospital.
The K9, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois named Indi, was assisting DeKalb County police in finding a suspect who fatally shot Officer Edgar Isidro Flores after fleeing a traffic stop Thursday night. Indi was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
11Alive learned Saturday that the K9 had been released from BluePearl Veterinary in Sandy Springs.
Saturday, Nicholas Broussard recorded a video on Facebook, of Indi. A line of police cars awaited Indi's release. The crowd applauded the K9 as he walked passed.
The injuries Indi received from the gunshot caused him to lose his right eye. Otherwise, the veterinarian doctors expect him to make a full recovery
DeKalb Police posted a photo of Indi from the hospital on its Instagram page, thanking the community for the support.
"Indi will continue his recovery at home with the major concern being protecting his wounds from infection," the post said. "The bigger concern will be keeping Indi from being the very active police canine he seems ready to get back to being until he fully heals."
Last week, Conroy did say that other police K9s who have been shot in the face have been able to make returns to service.
"Indi’s return to service will ultimately be his decision," the post said. "The main concern of the DeKalb Police Department is that Indi recover fully from his injuries. Once the staff at Blue Pearl give him the okay, Indi will be evaluated to see if a return to police work is safe enough for him to do and in everyone’s best interest. "
Indi has five years of service, according to the GBI.
"Indi has certainly earned his retirement and if police work is no longer an option he will be retired to his handler, so he may live out the remainder of his life as a family member in their home," the post said.
Law enforcement officers from different agencies also took the time Saturday to pay tribute to Flores. His body was escorted from DeKalb County to his hometown in Habersham County.
