WASHINGTON — The man accused of wounding a police dog in a shoot out during a traffic stop has been apprehended and is facing attempted murder charges, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
Joseph Conway, 34, is being held without bail at Rappahannock Regional Jail on two counts of attempted capital murder of a police officer and a charge of possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, according to Capt. Liz Scott.
Scott said Conway was found hiding out at a hotel near the Richmond airport and was arrested without incident early Tuesday, capping a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The charges stem from a bizarre traffic stop Sunday night near Fredericksburg. Conway had been a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a minor traffic violation, but the stop took a turn for the worse.
Conway assaulted a deputy during a pat down and fled, spurring another deputy to release the K-9, Scott said.
“That’s when Mr. Conway began firing,” Scott said.
The police dog, whose name is Dux, was shot once. Surgery was performed Monday to remove the bullet.
“He did remarkably well during the surgery, and we’re hoping there’s a possibility that he’ll be released [Tuesday],” Scott said.
Conway apparently was shot in the leg during the exchange. Scott said he received hospital treatment after he was apprehended from the hotel, where a weapon also was recovered.
The Sheriff’s Office has not identified the deputy who fired at Conway, but Scott said he has been with sheriff’s office for four years and has been a K-9 handler for a little more than a year.
The deputy was placed on administrative leave, in accordance with policy for police-involved shootings, Scott said.
WTOP’S Kristi King contributed to this report.
