A suspect who has been using a pack of dogs to terrorise locals in Marsabit Town was on Monday arrested in a dramatic operation.

Police had to shoot to the air and lob teargas canisters to detain the suspect and disperse the canines that were then chasing them.

According to the police, locals were planning to attack the suspect over claims of regularly unleashing the canines on them in the Bank Quarters area.

Three victims had earlier on August 16, August 18 and August 23 reported they were attacked and bitten by the pack of dogs in the area after the owner set them against the complainants.

This prompted police to move to the home to contain the situation which was escalating to tension.

According to police, on reaching the compound, they found the suspect surrounded by a pack of about 15 dogs.

He allegedly refused to surrender as ordered and instead set the dogs on the team of police.

This prompted a dramatic chase in the compound before those armed started to shoot to the air and others deployed teargas canisters which disabled the dogs.

The officers said they spent 42 bullets and six teargas canisters at the scene.

This enabled the officers to arrest the suspect. By then a mob had gathered outside the compound seeking to lynch him on claims he had been unleashing the canines on them.

Police said they fired more bullets to the air to disperse the group and sneaked the suspect out of the scene to the police station.

Police said he would be charged in court on Tuesday August 26.

Meanwhile, police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials are investigating an incident where ten sheep were found dead in a pen in Kondoo area, Uasin Gishu County.

The sheep had been attacked and killed by an unknown animal on Monday morning.

The animal believed to be a leopard attacked and seriously injured six sheep in the same pen.

KWS said they are investigating the matter and advised the owner to seek compensation.