A dog was allegedly ordered to attack Ridgewood police Saturday
This article was updated at 11:17 p.m.
RIDGEWOOD -- A West Paterson man faces several charges after police said he sicced his dog on officers, forcing them to shoot the animal, the department said in a statement Monday.
Police responded to the intersection of Lincoln and Godwin avenues around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, where they found Wilfredo Paduani, 38, stopped in his vehicle. He had previously been seen driving at about 5 mph down Lincoln, witnesses told police.
A dog was wounded by police in Ridgewood after it was allegedly ordered to attack. (Via GoFundMe) When officers approached to determine if Paduani was experiencing a medical problem, he allegedly assaulted the officers, then ordered the dog to attack them. The dog was not restrained, police said.
When the dog leapt through an open window and charged them, police opened fire, the department said in a statement. The dog was taken to Oradell Animal Hospital for treatment.
"[U]nfortunately, when the dog...acted upon the command to kill, an officer had no choice but to shoot the dog," Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke said in an email.
According to a GoFundMe page founded by a member of the Paduani family, the dog was shot six times "and is now fighting for his life with a bullet in his trachea, one of his legs, and two in his back. He is also suffering with a collapsed lung."
Paduani was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, terroristic threats, possession of drugs and being under the influence of drugs. He was being held on $50,000 bail at the Bergen County Jail.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.