Responding to information that a fugitive they were seeking was hiding at a residence on the Cote First Nation, the RCMP apprehended Adam Cote on July 18.
During the takedown both Cote and a police service dog were injured.
Cpl. Evan Gordon of the Kamsack detachment explained that when members, including a dog handler from the Prince Albert Dog Service Unit, conducted a second search of the residence they found Cote hiding in the attic. Gordon said the suspect actively resisted arrest and during the struggle was bitten by the service dog and sustained injuries for which he was later hospitalized.
Gordon did not provide details of what constituted resisting arrest.
"It was as a result of his actions, I can't get into the specific actions, but that's how his injuries were sustained," he said.
During Cote's arrest, Gordon said the police dog was attacked by a dog from the community and sustained an injury to its ear. The other dog was shot and killed by an officer.
Gordon said that is not a common practice referring to police policy for drawing and discharging their firearms.
"It's a last ditch effort to end an imminent threat to our dogs, ourselves or the public," he said.
Cote remains in hospital under police custody with additional charges of resisting arrest and breach of an undertaking.
Gordon did not know whether the dog's injury would hamper its ability to return to service.
The 28-year-old Cote was wanted on charges of aggravated assault and breach of an undertaking following an attack July 12 on the First nation. At that time, he was already subject to a warrant on charges of assault causing bodily harm and failing to appear in court related to an incident from November 2013 involving an attack on a 19-year-old woman.
Cote was scheduled to appear in court this morning on all the charges.
