A Brandon Police Officer with the K-9 unit will not face any charges after his dog injured a suspect during an arrest in October 2020.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) was call in to investigate the incident that happened in the early morning hours of October 9, 2020.

Police had responded to a call about two suspicious males damaging cars in the parking lot of a Brandon business.

When officers arrived on the scene they saw that a window to the business had been smashed and a male was inside. Police ordered the suspect to surrender but he refused. Officers warned the male that a police dog would be deployed if he continued to refuse the order to exit the building. The male refused again to come out. The dog was sent in and bit the suspect on the forearm causing a laceration that required 14 staples to close.

Under legislation injuries that require hospitalization as a result of police intervention mandates an investigation.

After a review of officers’ notes, radio communications, 911 recordings, investigation reports, medical reports, photographs of the suspects injuries and interviews the IIU concluded that the use of the dog was an acceptable use of force under the circumstances and the officer was lawful in the execution of their duties while investigating the break and enter. The suspect admitted to investigators that he heard the warnings about the dog being sent in and that he refused to surrender.

© News4.ca 2021