Victoria man bites police dog

A Victoria man faces a variety of charges following a weekend confrontation with a police dog that saw him allegedly bite, punch and chokethe animal in an effort to get away.

Police in B.C.'s capital city say the incident began when the suspect refused to pull over during a routine vehicle stop on Gorge Road early Sunday morning.

Acting Victoria police Chief Bill Naughton says the man rammed the police truck with his car and then tried to run away.

Naughton says Pago, the police dog, gave chaseand caught the man, who fought back, punching the dog in the head, then trying to choke it and then biting it.

The suspect's name has not been released.

Naughton says the three-year-old German shepherd suffered minor injuries, as did the suspect.

The man will appear in court on Tuesday to face a variety of charges, including dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer and possession of narcotics.

However, he was not charged for his fight with Pago.

Victoria police spokesman Const. Rick Anthony says they have considered chargingpeople who attack police dogs in the past, but have held off because the dogs are not considered "swornofficers" under the law.

Hesaid the national association representing police dog handlers has been lobbying for a change in the legislation, on the grounds that the animals are highly trained andextremely valuable members of police departments.