HOUSTON -- A 15-year-old boy is speaking out after he and his brother were charged with killing a police dog, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables said their beloved K-9 deputy, Bleck, ran into a wooded area in north Harris County last week in pursuit of several burglary suspects.

Bleck was later found dead in the woods.

Investigators said they believe Cornelius Harrell, 17, choked Bleck to death.

Harrell and his brother, Cameron, 15, are suspected in several burglaries, and are both charged with interfering with a police service animal.

Cameron Harrell would not answer questions about any burglaries, but insisted that his brother was only protecting him for being attacked by the dog as they both hid in the woods.

"He was trying to help me," Cameron Harrell said. "He just grabbed … all I seen was he grabbed the dog and it started trying to bite him and he told me to run and keep running."

The constable's office released a statement saying that the department is deeply saddened by the loss. It said Bleck's death is traumatic and personal for his handler and Bleck placed himself in danger every time he was called to duty.