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Dog attack after police pursuit crash

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Offender found choking dog - police

3News NZ

The car crashed into trees just outside Hamilton (Photo: 3 News)

The car crashed into trees just outside Hamilton (Photo: 3 News)

By 3 News online staff

A police dog has been attacked after a Waikato high-speed police pursuit last night reaching speeds of 180km/h ended in a crash.

Police say the incident was drug-related and the fleeing driver crashed near Tamahere, just outside Hamilton.

A member of the public first alerted police after 10pm to a Holden VX Commodore Clubsport saloon travelling at speed and passing on double yellow lines near Cambridge.

Inspector Marcus Lynam says when police found the car on State Highway 1, the driver refused police directions to pull over. The driver fled at high speed in the direction of Hamilton.

"Because of the offenders' car having reached speeds of 180km/h the pursuit was being reviewed when the car drove over road spikes deployed near the intersection of SH1 and Airport Rd,” says Mr Lynam.

He says it appears the driver tried to evade the spikes, but came off the road and crashed broadside into a line of trees.

"Despite their injuries two men have then fled the car and a police dog has tracked a 31-year-old year man through a number of properties to a trucking company's yard. Locating this man in the cab in an immobilised truck, two police dog handlers and a dog tried to affect an arrest but after assaulting one officer the man has fled.

"The second dog handler has resumed the track with the police dog which has been unleashed at a residential property and run out of sight after the offender. The dog handler has rounded a corner to find the offender choking the dog to the point of unconsciousness and fired a warning shot from his pistol."

Mr Lynam says the shot was used to distract the offender, causing him to release his grip on the dog.

Police say the man was then subdued by two officers with the assistance of the dog, despite “offering extreme resistance”.

The second man, 34, was arrested a short time later with the assistance of the Waikato armed offenders squad and the police helicopter.

Both men are under police guard at Waikato Hospital. The dog will be checked over by a vet later today.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified of the crash.

3 News

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Comments

1/03/2013 3:33:02 p.m.

Brett wrote:

Tom... what are you on... have you read the report... these were two hardened criminals wanted in regards to three aggravated robberies where during one robbery gun shots were fired. Do you not think the dogs were not used properly in order to track and locate the offenders? Each time a dog handler uses a dog to subdue an offender a report has to be filed justifying the use of the dog. In this case it was certainly more than justified! Police dogs are worth their weight in gold as often the case when their deployed and just the sight of them will sub due an offender... rarely do they get used to attack! Maybe you should join the police and show the boys in blue why dogs aren't necessary!

1/03/2013 3:18:16 p.m.

Mj wrote:

Criminals who use guns against people, rob people, drive and endanger people are toal cowards and should be held to account for putting people in harms way. If you had a gun used on you, a motor vehicle driven at ridiculous speeds on a public road, would you want them taken out by whatever means, I know I would, lets face it, theres some low down arrogant criminals out there who believe they are above reproach

1/03/2013 12:26:25 p.m.

Tom wrote:

Cops who use dogs in this manner are total cowards, and should be held to account for putting animals in harms way. If the cops set a savage dog onto you, would you defend yourself? I know I would, and lets face it, there's some dodgy cops out there. They are not above reproach.