NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On Thursday, May 28th, 2020, at approximately 3:10 a.m., a Niagara Regional Police Service K9 Unit officer was in the area of Hayes Road and Allanburg Road in the City of Thorold. The officer was conducting checks of properties in the area that have been targets of theft and vandalism in the past.
The officer discovered a parked, unoccupied car on a roadway adjacent to a former commercial production plant.
The former commercial production plant has been a training site for the NRPS K9 Unit. The officer investigated the matter further and entered onto the property.
The K9 officer and his partner, Police Service Dog Jax located two males with flashlights who were inside the property unlawfully. The K9 Officer attempted to place the males under arrest, at which time both suspects fled on foot.
The K9 Unit officer and Police Service Dog Jax were able to locate one of the males and attempted to arrest him once again. The male brandished a knife and swung the knife making attempts to stab Jax, multiple times.
The K9 Unit officer came to the assistance of Jax and attempted to protect his partner. In the course of attempting to disarm the male, the K9 handler was cut by the knife. The officer suffered minor injuries. Jax was not injured.
A 17-year-old youth, from Thorold, is charged with the alleged Criminal offences of:
- Attempt to injure Police dog sec. 445.01(1) CC
- Assault Peace Officer with a weapon sec. 270.01(1)(a) CC
- Break and Enter and commit place other than a dwelling sec.348(1)(b) CC
- Possession of break in instruments sec. 351(1)(b) CC
- Mischief under $5000 sec.430(4) CC
- Resist arrest sec. 129(a) CC
The youth was released on a Form 10 – Undertaking and is required to appear at court on June 23rd, 2020, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
Under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Niagara Regional Police is prohibited from identifying the youth in this matter.
The other male is still outstanding.
The 17-year-old suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
Anyone with information is asked to call 905-688-4111, extension 4322.
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