A 19-year-old Prince Albert resident is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to flee police and later assaulting a police dog Wednesday.
At about 2 a.m. on June 6, a member of the police was searching for a male suspect believed to be responsible for five arsons within the past six hours. The officer, the handler for Police Service Dog (PSD) Daxa, located a man who matched the description provided to police by witnesses of the arsons.
Once the suspect, who was on a bicycle, recognized that police were interested in him, he attempted to flee. After a short chase, the suspect began to run. He was caught in the unit Block of 13 Street East. Commands were given to surrender. The suspect ignored those commands.
Daxa engaged the suspect. The suspect fought the police dog, striking her several times in the head with a closed fist.
Daxa and her handler subdued the suspect, who was then handcuffed. A knife was found that had been thrown on the ground. It was collected for evidence.
The suspect was taken to hospital for assessment and then released back into police custody.
He was charged with assaulting a peace officer, assaulting a peace officer with intent to resist arrest, carrying a concealed weapon, possession a weapon for a dangerous purpose and willfully causing unnecessary pain or injury to police dog Daxa by striking her in the head several times with his fist (section 445.1 of the Criminal Code).
A police spokesperson confirmed Daxa “at this time appears to be physically sound.”
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