Nanaimo RCMP are recommending charges of obstruction and assaulting police after an arrest attempt turned violent last week.
Mounties were on the lookout Thursday for a 22-year-old man from Nanaimo who police said is well known to police and wanted on outstanding warrants.
When a member spotted the man riding a bicycle on Princess Street, the officer switched on the emergency lights and siren of his unmarked patrol vehicle as the suspect fled down a trail.
The suspect fell off his bike during the chase, but kept on running in spite of warnings from the officer to stop.
A police dog called to the scene sniffed out a track to a shed on View Street where the suspect was hiding. Police allege he refused to come out and started kicking the dog. After refusing commands to stop resisting arrest and stop kicking the dog, the dog bit him.
Officers then moved in to arrest the suspect who started struggling with them and kicked one member in the knee before he was subdued, handcuffed and taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to be treated for puncture wounds.
Following treatment, the suspect was taken to cells in Ladysmith RCMP detachment.
He is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo provincial court Tuesday (March 19) to face recommended charges of obstructing a police officer and assaulting a police officer.