Brian McDonald won $650,000 in Pima County Superior Court for being bitten on the leg by a Pima County Sheriff's Department dog during a Nov. 13 traffic stop.
A jury awarded McDonald $617,500, plus legal fees.
Court documents say McDonald drove the wrong way and nearly hit a deputy patrol vehicle. Deputies pursued McDonald under suspicion of DUI, and managed to stop his vehicle with traffic spikes. Judge Catherine Woods wrote Feb. 10 that there was no evidence that McDonald behaved aggressively or reached for a weapon, and that the deputy Joseph Klein used a dog to apprehend McDonald after he disobeyed commands.
According to court documents, McDonald is a diabetic who suffered low blood sugar.
The Pima County Attorney declined to prosecute McDonald due to a lack of evidence.
A follow-up hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. May 9 regarding sanctions and objection to the attorney's costs.
