10 Jul 2018

Man faces New Plymouth court after allegedly biting dog

4:59 pm on 10 July 2018

A man has appeared in court after biting a police dog.

Police dog training

File photo. Photo: RNZ

The 33-year-old man was due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court today on driving, dishonesty and violence charges.

The man allegedly crashed his car into several parked cars in the suburb of Bell Block before breaking into a property and demanding keys from a person inside just before 10.30pm yesterday.

He then drove recklessly in that car, crashed it and then abandoned it before demanding keys from two other people in their homes on Parklands Avenue, police said.

Detective Sergeant Gerard Bouterey said the man fled after police found him, so a police dog was used to track him down.

"The man has fought with the dog, slamming it into the ground and a concrete wall, and biting its head," Mr Bouterey said.

"The dog is recovering well, he's now at home with his handler and is not expected to suffer any long-term side effects."

The man was also injured and taken to hospital.

Mr Bouterey said a number of people contacted police at the time but he was urging other witnesses to come forward.

Anyone who may have found discarded items on their property or had their vehicle damaged should contact New Plymouth Police on 06 759 5500.