Edmonton police say it has laid its first charge under a law that tries to deter attacks on police and service dogs.
Police say the canine unit tried to stop a speeding vehicle on Tuesday, but it took off, so the police helicopter tracked the vehicle from air for more than an hour driving erratically in Edmonton, Beaumont and Strathcona County.
When the vehicle was stopped by a spike belt, the driver fled on foot, but police service dog Jagger caught the driver, who allegedly assaulted the dog.
Police say the dog has non life-threatening injuries.
Ryan James Prystay, who is 33, is facing several drug, theft and weapons charges as well as a charge of injure or endanger a law enforcement animal.
The Justice for Animals in Service Act, or Quanto's Law, came into force last July, named after Edmonton police dog Quanto, who was killed in the line of duty in 2013.
Quanto was stabbed in the RCMP headquarters parking lot while he was helping to apprehend a fleeing suspect.
The law amends the Criminal Code to make it against the law to injure or kill a police or service dog.
The penalty includes a prison term of up to five years.
The legislation applies to all service animals used in law enforcement, the military and those that help people with disabilities or specific medical needs.
