A Florence, Alabama bodycam release shows a chaotic arrest where a man who was not part of a police operation allegedly inserted himself into the scene, resisted officers, grabbed a K-9 and bit the dog, and was then taken into custody. Police say the footage captures the full encounter and that force used was reviewed and found justified, while local leaders and residents have expressed concern. The incident has sparked debate over crowding of active police scenes and how officers balance public safety with taking control of unpredictable bystanders.
The Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, assisted by Florence SWAT and the Florence Police K-9 Unit, executed a search warrant in the 200 block of North Locust Street. The operation brought multiple units and visible resources to the scene, which can draw attention from neighbors and passersby whenever heavy police presence is involved. ‘I can tell you what I had a concern of, and of course, all of the citizens. Those are most of my calls in regard to what happened. It’s all about the dog biting him and when the dog was sicced on him.’
Authorities say 46-year-old David Culliver arrived on scene even though he had no connection to the investigation, and quickly became disruptive. Officers report he shouted at police, stepped into a busy roadway and ignored repeated orders to move back to safety. When traffic continued to flow around him, officers decided to place him under arrest to remove the immediate hazard and restore order.
According to police reports, Culliver resisted attempts to be handcuffed and physically pulled away from officers, prompting multiple deputies to engage. A K-9 was deployed to help control the situation and prevent further escalation. In the confrontation that followed, officers say Culliver grabbed a leg of the K-9 and bit the animal, forcing officers to take additional measures to get the dog released.
Officers struck Culliver to get the K-9 to release and then brought him to the ground to secure him in handcuffs. He was later transported to a hospital for treatment of puncture wounds said to be related to the K-9 contact and then booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center. Police did not provide specific details about any injuries the K-9 may have suffered.
District officials listed several charges against Culliver: resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and interfering with a police dog. Bond was reportedly set at $2,500, and jail records checked the following day did not show him listed as an inmate. Those details reflect the immediate legal response while any additional inquiries or medical follow-ups for the K-9 would move at a separate pace.
Police released video containing two bodycam angles to give the public a fuller view of the encounter and to show what they describe as the complete sequence of events. The department noted that brief clips circulating on social media can miss the context that full footage provides and urged viewers to consider the whole recording before drawing conclusions. Content warning: Explicit language.
After reviewing the footage, the department said the use of force was justified and that the full clip offers a clearer timeline than shortened videos do. That stance has not ended public discussion, as community members and leaders continue to voice concerns about the use of a K-9 on someone who was not initially involved in the investigation. Conversations are now focusing on bystander behavior at active police scenes and how officers should respond when nonparticipants escalate a tense situation.
Local officials say they have been contacted by residents upset about what they saw and are weighing community concerns alongside the department’s explanation. Florence City Council President Kaytrina Simmons said several citizens reached out to her in anger, and she relayed her own unease about the timing and necessity of deploying a dog. “I’m not a police officer. I can tell you what I had a concern of, and of course, all of the citizens. Those are most of my calls in regard to what happened. It’s all about the dog biting him and when the dog was sicced on him.”
