A woman who stole thousands of dollars in cosmetics has won a nearly $1 million settlement from a Northern California town after a police dog bit and tore at her scalp as police tried to take her into custody. custody.

In a statement, Timothy Herbert, the police chief of Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County, defended the officer handling the dog that day, saying his actions were justified. The chief said the city decided to settle the lawsuit to avoid further litigation and legal costs.

Brentwood city officials agreed to pay Talmika Bates $967,000 for the 2020 incident, which left the then-24-year-old woman suffering from severe dog bites and cuts to her scalp.

“Oh my God, please get your dog,” Bates could be heard yelling on body camera video of the incident as Brentwood Police Officer Ryan Rezentes is seen pulling on the dog’s leash. “All my skin is off.”

According to the initial complaint, Brentwood police were dispatched to Ulta Beauty Supply, a cosmetics store, on February 10, 2020, after an employee reported that three women had stolen several items.

Conformable to Brentwood policeBates, who was on probation, and two other women had stolen $10,000 worth of merchandise from the store and fled in a car. The police tried to stop the car, but the driver crashed into their patrol car and three women tried to escape on foot.

Another officer stood by Rezentes with his gun drawn during the incident and tried to calm Rezentes down, according to video from body worn camera.

“Don’t worry, I won’t shoot your dog,” he is heard saying.

After a minute, the two officers ordered Bates to her feet, handcuffed her and scolded her for running away.

“As she emerged from the bushes, the assembled officers could see large chunks of Ms. Bates’ scalp being ripped from her head, exposing bone and tissue,” the complaint states.

Surgeons reattached Bates’ scalp, but the lawsuit claims she continues to suffer from headaches, memory loss and depression from the incident.

Attorneys for Bates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When reached for comment, Rezentes’ attorneys referred to the police chief’s statement.

Bates pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor grand larceny and resisting a police officer, according to court records.

Bates’ attorneys argued that Rezentes lied in his police report, falsely claiming he didn’t have cover from another officer so he could safely recall the dog while attacking Bates.

In his statement, Herbert defended the officer’s actions, pointing out that the court ruled that the officer lawfully sent the dog to search for the suspects.

Herbert said his officers had no way of knowing if Bates was armed, adding that she did not comply with officers’ orders to surrender.

The court, however, also ruled that there was potential liability regarding the duration of the dog’s attack.

The police department has no working canines right now, Herbert said.