The incident occurred on February 3, 2021, not February 2, as previously stated.
PSD Oliver is undergoing surgery this afternoon. The SPS would like to thank the staff at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for their expertise in treating PSD Oliver.
February 3, 2021 3:38 PM
A Police Service Dog required emergency treatment after being injured while attempting to take a suspect into custody during an evade police incident this morning. PSD Oliver suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and is recovering after treatment.
The incident began at approximately 10:00 a.m., February 2, 2021. A canine team spotted a suspicious vehicle at Avenue W North and 33rd Street West. They attempted a traffic stop, however the driver of the GMC Sierra truck fled at a high rate of speed. Patrol members terminated a pursuit. The vehicle was spotted again a few minutes later traveling north west of the city near Highway 16 and then on the Dalmeny grid. The occupants were spotted throwing items out of the windows and tried to ram patrol vehicles. Officers attempted to use tire deflation devices however the driver avoided them. The vehicle ended up stuck in snow and the occupants attempted to flee on foot. The Canine team located the male suspect in deep snow and were attempting to bring him into custody when PSD Oliver was stabbed repeatedly with a knife. The male suspect suffered minor injuries for which he is receiving treatment. The vehicle was found to be stolen.
The 32-year-old male driver and 31-year-old female passenger were taken into custody. The man is facing a number of charges including Possession of a Dangerous Weapon, Dangerous Driving and a charge under Section 445 of the Criminal Code of Canada (Quanto’s Law). This law prohibits the killing or wounding of animals that have been trained and are being used to help law enforcement officers. The mandatory minimum penalty upon indictment is six months in prison.
More information will be provided when it is available.