A police officer broke his arm fighting off an attack by a pit bull on the Northwestside.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Ronald Brezik’s forearm was shattered when he was attacked at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 4000 block of North Vinewood Avenue.

Brezik had responded to a call that a vicious dog in the neighborhood had bitten a person. He and other officers spotted the suspect dog and followed it into a backyard on Vinewood.

When Brezik went to lock the gate to keep the dog inside, it rushed through another gate and attacked him, according to an IMPD report.

Brezik shot at the dog and missed. The dog ran away, but was later caught.

During the scuffle, Brezik was knocked to the ground. He injured his arm and wrist while breaking his fall, according to the report. Brezik was taken to Methodist Hospital.