Hanover Police say two officers were injured during an arrest attempt.
Police say in a release, on Tuesday, May 6th at 8:15 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of 7th Avenue for a dispute between a tenant and an apartment building manager.
Police say their investigation determined a 35-year-old male tenant was wanted by several police services in Ontario for various crimes. They arrested him in the building lobby area, then escorted him back to his apartment unit to secure his Cane Corso dog.
Police allege, at the suspect’s door, he resisted arrest and tried to escape into the apartment unit. They say a struggle ensued that continued into the apartment where the officers were attacked by as many as three Cane Corso dogs.
Police claim the suspect and his girlfriend made no effort to stop the attack.
They say the officers were eventually able to exit the apartment and were transported to the Hanover and District Hospital where they were treated for a series of bites to their hands, arms and legs.
They say after the attack, the suspect and his girlfriend fled the scene with the dogs in a van, but shortly after 4 p.m., the suspect’s girlfriend, a 30-year-old Hanover woman was arrested during a traffic stop south of Hanover in possession of the three dogs.
According to Hanover police, the dogs were taken into care by animal control and placed into quarantine under the direction of Public Health officials.
The 35-year-old man faces charges of aggravated assault of a peace officer, two counts of assault of a peace officer, two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest, and escaping lawful custody. Police say further charges are pending and that he remains outstanding and is believed to be in the GTA.
The 30-year-old woman faces charges of accessory after the fact and obstructing a peace officer. She was released at her bail hearing this afternoon with conditions for
court in Walkerton. Police say further charges are pending.
The officers were treated and released from the Hanover and District Hospital. They say one of the officers sustained significant lacerations that may result in an extended recovery time, while the second officer was able to return to work after receiving only minor bite wounds.
