A police dog who had his muzzle broken by a man who was eventually shot and killed by officers is out of the veterinary hospital.

Ranger underwent surgery for the severe fracture of his muzzle after being struck with a rock. The surgery appears to have been successful and the police dog was home Wednesday recovering from his injury, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

Sgt. Tony Turnbull, department spokesman, said it is anticipated that Ranger will be able to return to active duty. However, he will be checked out by the vet after a couple of weeks of recovery.

Ranger was hurt Monday night when he was hit by a rock wielded by Mikel Laney McIntyre, 32. A Rancho Cordova police officer and a sheriff’s deputy were trying to bring McIntyre under control.

After a confrontation with his mother in a parking lot near Zinfandel Drive and Highway 50 that she says was simply a disagreement but deputies allege was violent, McIntyre ran across Olson Drive to the Red Roof Inn.

There, McIntyre and an officer fought in a landscaped area filled with river rocks, Turnbull said. McIntyre picked up one of the rocks and hit the officer in the head, Turnbull said.

The officer remained conscious and fired his gun at McIntyre, who ran down Olson and Zinfandel drives to the freeway ramp and onto westbound Highway 50, Turnbull said.

Other officers found McIntyre on the north side of Highway 50 under the Zinfandel overcrossing. Turnbull said McIntyre threw rocks at the deputies, who released the police dog in an effort to take him into custody.

McIntyre then hit Ranger in the head with another large rock and began to attack officers, Turnbull said. Two officers opened fire, wounding McIntyre. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

One officer who was hit in the head with a rock was taken to the hospital and later released with staples in his head to treat the wound.

NORRISTOWN>>Jerry needs a jitney.

Fresh from his intensive scent-detecting lessons at Penn Vet Working Dog Center, Norristown Police Department K-9 officer Jerry will take the spotlight on Saturday, May 13, at a fundraiser that will hopefully finance a vehicle for the 16-month-old German shepherd and his handler, Officer Bryan Nawoschik.

“The handler and the dog will ride around on patrol just like any other police team, and we’re buying the police department a police vehicle, effectively, for the handler and the dog,” explained Sean Cullen, founder of the Norristown Police Foundation.

“The whole purpose of the nonprofit foundation is to supplement the needs of the Norristown Police Department privately and help Norristown and the community,” noted Cullen, an attorney based in Norristown. “If we raise money to do this, the taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay for it and it wouldn’t come out of the police budget. We will help pay for the vehicle and other things, such as veterinary care, handler’s fees. ”

The beef ’n’ beer gala will be held at Norristown Maenner-Chor Club Pavilion, 920 Haws Ave., Norristown, from noon to 3 p.m.

A $20 admission fee (kids 15 and under get in for free) entitles you to one food ticket and a beverage ticket, as you relive “all the music you grew up listening to,” like “California Dreamin’ ” by the Mamas and the Papas and “Different Drum” by Linda Ronstadt, affectionately reinvented by popular local band AM Radio.

Jerry and his training were made possible by drug forfeiture money provided by District Attorney Kevin Steele, noted Capt. Richard C. Clowser, deputy chief of the Norristown Police Department.

“K-9s are an additional resource that is not funded by the police department budget,” Clowser added. “K-9s are also utilized heavily in the Norristown Police Department to strengthen our community engagement and relationship with the community. Both Jerry and our first K-9, Nero, have been provided through Penn Vet Working Dog Center. The K-9s are socialized from the time they are born and brought up with foster families rather than being kenneled. Through their extensive training they are trained to engage with people in a positive manner and provide additional safety to officers and the public when necessary.”

Tickets are available in advance at Sean Cullen’s office, 40. E. Main St., Norristown and at the Norristown Police Department, 235 E. Airy St., Norristown.

The Maenner-Chor is extremely generous to the community and they’re right here in town, so it just made sense to partner with them for this event,” Cullen said.

“We encourage everyone to come out and support this great cause while having a good time.”