Well, it's in the Star Trib so it must be true :

http://www.startribune.com/local/36824599.html

Sounds like matters escalated badly when five cops and a K9 came in and started chasing people. I'm a little amazed that people find dogs so intimidating. 1200 people sent home, no arrests.

Alarms and reasons? Wow. No wonder the Strib is dying.

I've been attacked by dogs, unprovoked. They can be pretty damned intimidating.

I am quite confident that I could hold my own, unarmed, against any single dog and possibly against two or more as long as they don't collectively exceed my own considerable body weight . I grew up with dogs, and wrestled with them. No big deal once you learn to evade the teeth and get them on their backs.

I fail to see why this is an "isolated incident."

There were 1200 people in there with one off-duty cop. Fights broke out, people tried to ram their way through the door, three people ended up injured and one young girl was having a medical issue.

The single off-duty officer called for assistance and it's an "isolated incident?"

What was he supposed to do, leave the scene and let the mob sort it out?

He did fine. I fail to understand, however, why the backup officers chose actions that led to a sufficient state of panic to justify shutting the place down for the night.

Especially when no charges were filed.

I don't see an over responce here. A B96 DJ thought it was. No one cares what B96 DJ's think.

I know an RN who works grave shift in a metro ER and from the description of dog bites that come from police K9s, there's plenty of reason to be terrified of police K9s.

Yeah, I'm sure you're right. Say, how much bigger is a zebra than a leopard?

Police K9's are trained to bite and HOLD ON. Don't struggle.

Take it like a man.

I used to feel the same way, now I'm not so sure. I obtained my opinion the same way you did, by wrestling with large dogs as a kid. Now however I'm of the opinion that there's a big difference between a dog that's playing against it's "master", and one that is in full fight/attack mode. Visualize wrestling with a squirming, snarling, snapping, kicking, 120# or larger dog that isn't trying to be slow or gentle. Even if I do manage to "win" by getting a secure neck hold and strangling him, I imagine I'm probably gonna lose a considerable amount of blood and possibly some flesh from my arms or face as well.

To say nothing of losing some skull and brain tissue when his handler shoots you to save his 'partner'.

The strib has changed the headline and sub-header to be mildly less inflammatory. Instead of stating the DJ's opinion as fact in the headline, it now reads, "The storm after the calm" and now admits it's the DJ's expert thoughts on the matter.

When a near riot breaks out with over 1,000 people in a roller-rink, the cops are going to come and they're going to bring friends. Riots are scary and extremely dangerous.