Brentwood Settles $1 Million K-9 Bite Lawsuit

Talmika Bates, a California woman, has been awarded nearly $1 million after a police dog attacked her in February 2020 while she was hiding from officers following a shoplifting incident at Ulta Beauty. Officer Ryan Rezentes deployed his K-9, Marco, without adequately commanding him, leading to the dog biting Bates on the scalp for over a minute despite her pleas to be released. The attack resulted in severe injuries, including a scalp that required over 200 stitches and ongoing issues such as brain injuries and PTSD. The City of Brentwood settled the lawsuit for $967,000 to avoid further litigation costs, with a judge indicating that prolonged use of a police dog constitutes excessive force. Bates has since pled no contest to charges related to the theft but continues to suffer from the emotional and physical trauma of the incident. The case raises broader concerns about the use of police dogs in non-life-threatening situations, as highlighted by recent legislative efforts to limit such practices in California.