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K-9 Attack Leaves Colorado Family Facing Debt
23 Aug
Summary
- A family faces $300,000 in medical bills after a K-9 attack.
- Jefferson County refused to provide assistance to the injured family.
- A jury found the dog's handler not guilty of misdemeanor charges.
A Colorado family is confronting hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt after a severe K-9 attack occurred last year. The incident took place on August 11, 2024, during a birthday celebration in the Dean family's backyard. Ragnar, a Jefferson County Sheriff's Department K-9, reportedly jumped over the fence and attacked the family's two-year-old daughter, Lily, and her father, Nick Dean.
Nick Dean and two other men intervened, but during the struggle to control the dog, Dean sustained severe injuries, including a fractured femur, while trying to rescue his daughter. Lily also suffered significant injuries from the attack. Both were transported to a hospital for immediate medical treatment.
In August 2025, a jury in Douglas County acquitted Deputy Zachary Oliver, Ragnar's handler, of misdemeanor charges related to harboring a dangerous dog. Oliver's defense successfully argued he was performing official duties when the incident occurred, a circumstance protected under Colorado law.
The Dean family has since accumulated $300,000 in medical bills. They report that Jefferson County has not provided the promised support, leading them to seek help from the community via an online fundraiser to manage their financial burden. The family states that no lawyers have been willing to take their case on a contingency basis.
