Saanich police arrested an intoxicated Saanich man who threatened to harm his girlfriend and her two children with a steak knife, and then sent his Rottweiler after police officers.
The woman called police around 8:45 p.m. Monday reporting her boyfriend had forced his way into their home in the 100-block of Regina Ave.
As officers were preparing to approach the residence, from less than a block away, the man, still brandishing the steak knife, left the property with the dog.
"Upon being confronted by several officers … he immediately threw away the steak knife and proceeded to release the Rottweiler in the direction of the officers," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen. "Fortunately, having a police services dog there was a good thing because the (canine) handler released his animal and intercepted the Rottweiler before he could reach any of our officers."
Police dog Taz bit the Rottweiler multiple times, causing the man's dog to run away.
Officers arrested the 34-year-old man without incident and immediately noted he was bleeding profusely from one of his hands.
"It turns out that just as he was approaching our officers and walking away from the residence, his dog took exception and actually bit him in the hand," Jantzen said. He was taken to hospital, but refused treatment.
The man faces charges of multiple counts of threats, possession of a weapon, and breach-related charges for outstanding warrants.
The man's girlfriend and her two children were not physically injured in the incident, and police contacted the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Jantzen said to his knowledge the Rottweiler is still at large, and given that it did show aggression and it bit a human, Saanich pound officers may look at classifying the animal as a dangerous dog.
kslavin@saanichnews.com