GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The man who allegedly stabbed Green Bay Police K9 officer Pyro is incompetent to stand trial, and he has been committed for treatment, again.
Sai Vang, 30, faces three charges, including causing injury to a police animal for the April 7, 2019, incident. He has pleaded not guilty.
The competency issue refers to Vang’s ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense.
A psychiatric review previously recommended a finding of incompetence. Vang refused to leave his jail cell for Monday’s hearing, when Judge Timothy Hinkfuss ordered inpatient treatment, including the involuntary administration of medication, court records show.
No date to review his status was scheduled.
Vang was committed for treatment once before, and then was deemed competent to stand trial. His attorneys raised the issue again earlier this year.
Police were called to a west-side home on April 7, 2019, because Vang was threatening to kill his father. Vang refused to surrender, so police released Pyro to engage Vang. The dog bit Vang, Vang pulled a knife out of his waistband, and stabbed Pyro. An officer then used a taser on Vang, and he was taken into custody, according to the complaint.
During questioning, Vang repeatedly apologized for stabbing Pyro but said “he stabbed the dog on instinct, because he is scared of dogs,” the complaint states.
Police and family members have said Vang has mental issues, and has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, according to the criminal complaint.
