SHELBY, N.C. -- A 4-year-old girl continues to recover after being accidentally bitten by a Shelby Police K9 Friday afternoon.
The incident happened at the intersection of Lineberger and Buffalo Streets as officers said they tried to arrest Robert Sutton Jr., for outstanding felony warrants.
According to an incident report obtained by NBC Charlotte, Sutton was hiding in a house before running outside to escape officers.
According to the report, K9 Officer Mike Fussell "...did deploy his K9 in an attempt to apprehend Robert [Sutton, Jr.]."
Officers on-scene said Sutton ran to a car, which happened to be stopped at the intersection.
Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said Sutton opened the back door of the car, where the 4-year-old girl, Karmen, was sitting. As the K9 closed in, officers said he jumped on top of the car.
Police tackled and arrested Sutton, but according to the incident report, the K9 was still loose and bit the 4-year-old.
Paramedics took the 4-year-old to a local hospital where, family members tell NBC Charlotte, she received emergency surgery to stitch up the bites.
Chief Ledford said an internal investigation is underway though Officer Fussell and his K9 will be back on duty.
"We know it wasn't a flaw so far, but there are some things that we're going to have to check out and make sure," Chief Ledford said.
Chief Ledford further stated that the top priority is for the health and wellbeing of 4-year-old Karmen. He said the department will do what they can to help in the situation.
At the scene on Friday, witnesses disputed the department's account of events and, in particular, claimed officers, not Sutton, opened the back door where Karmen was sitting.
Chief Ledford said there is body camera video of the incident, but it won't be released until the conclusion of both the criminal investigation into Sutton and the internal investigation into the incident.
Officer Fussell is a 10-year-veteran of the department and the K9, which has not been identified, is one of the department's more experienced K9 members.