A suspect and a bystander were treated in hospital for bites after a foot chase between Nanaimo Mounties and a suspect took a dramatic turn Thursday.
The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. when police pulled over a car on the 1600 block of Townsite Road.
A man riding in the car, who was wanted for four separate outstanding warrants for theft, breach of undertaking and failure to appear in court, jumped out and ran through the open patio door of a nearby apartment building and continued his flight into a second unit in the building.
A police dog service team operating nearby was called in a gave chase through the apartment building.
"Officers noticed, as they approached the second unit, the front door was being closed," said Const. Gary O'Brien.
A police dog bit a 66-year-old woman in the apartment on the wrist, before the dog's handler was able to redirect the dog toward the suspect who was hiding behind the door.
Shaun Alexander McGregor, 31, of Nanaimo, suffered dog bites to his right arm before police were able to take him into custody.
McGregor and the woman were treated at the scene and at NRGH for their injuries.
O'Brien said the woman received one stitch for a minor puncture wound to her wrist.
McGregor was held in custody and appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Friday to face additional recommended charges of breaking and entering and resisting arrest.
O'Brien said both apartments McGregor fled through were occupied at the time and police on the scene characterized the chase as an extremely dangerous situation.
"It was a spontaneous, dynamic, situation that the accused was directing," O'Brien said. "He chose to go through those units and our concern was that we may end up having a hostage situation."