Two 13-year members of the Saskatoon Police Service are facing aggravated assault charges.
The charges stem from two investigation by the Provincial Complaints Commission into separate incidents involving police services dogs after formal complaints were submitted to the PCC.
One incident happened in 2019 and the other happened in 2020. In both cases the suspect suffered dog bites.
Deputy Chief, Mitch Yuzdepski who oversees the canine unit says this is the first time in the 54-year history of Saskatoon’s canine unit that he believes charges have been brought forward against the officers responsible for the dog.
“Our canine teams include general duty dogs trained in the following profiles, agility, obedience, tracking, criminal apprehension and person and evidence searches. All of our teams complete a 16-week training program which includes the profiles I just mentioned and after validating the provincial standard in the initial training, each team is required to revalidate yearly.”
Both canines involved the incidents have been removed from active duty but are still taking part in regular training exercises.
The officers in question are Constable Cole Miklautsch and Constable Dennis Baron. Both have been placed on administrative duty pending the court proceedings.
Chief Troy Cooper told reporters he couldn’t disclose if the suspects in each incident were the one that filed the complaints.
Deputy Chief Mitch Yuzdepski says the dogs will apprehend a suspect under three circumstances. One being when they are threatened, two is when the handler is threatened and three is when the handler orders the canine to do so.
Both officers are due in Saskatoon Provincial Court on May 18th at 2 p.m.
Below are descriptions of the incidents…
The Saskatoon Police Service says on July 12, 2019 shortly before 9 p.m. Patrol officers spotted a male in a vehicle who was wanted on outstanding warrants. They attempted a traffic stop, however the suspect refused to stop. The Air Support Unit guided responding officers to an alley behind Milton Street where the male suspect abandoned the vehicle and took off on foot. The officer issued commands for the suspect to stop, but he didn’t. The police service dog was deployed with the suspect being treated in hospital for a dog bite. Meantime, the suspect vehicle and the license plate were found to be stolen. The male suspect was charged with Possession of Stolen Property Over $5000, Evade Police, Possession of False Identity Documents and Mischief.
The second incident involved a break and enter in progress to a fenced compound on June 1, 2020 at approximately 9:00 p.m. The officer was the first on scene. A male matching the suspect description was located running from the scene. The officer gave commands for the suspect to stop, which he did not. The police service dog was deployed and once the suspect was taken into custody he was treated for a dog bite. In that instance, the suspect was charged with Break and Enter, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Psylocybin, and breach of conditions.
Formal complaints were submitted to the Provincial Complaints Commission. The Saskatoon Police Service was notified on April 21s that the Crown prosecutor’s office was recommending charges of aggravated assault.
