A suspected auto thief was taken to hospital after resisting arrest by a police dog.
Michael Andrew O'Neill, 37, is facing multiple charges after a prolonged police search on Saturday evening. O'Neill is believed to be from Kamloops with ties also to Victoria.
The allegations stem from a traffic stop on Spruce Street by the Prince George RCMP's Crime Reduction Team. Members took note of a pickup truck and
signaled it to pull over.
"As the truck came to a stop, two occupants exited the vehicle and ran on foot," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass.
"The vehicle then fled the area running a red light at the intersection of 20th Avenue and Spruce Street. Police did not pursue the vehicle. Minutes later, the suspect driver was spotted running across 20th Avenue, near Cuddie Crescent. The truck was located on Cuddie Crescent and was found to have been stolen out of Smithers earlier in the day."
Police service dog Azar and his handler attended the area and began tracking the suspect driver. Azar located the suspect hiding in a camper in the back yard of a residence on the 1700 block of Norwood Street.
"Despite the presence of [Azar] the suspect resisted arrest," Douglass said. "The adult male was arrested and transported to the University Hospital of Northern BC for treatment of wounds as a result of dog bites."
O'Neill is suspected of being the driver of the truck in question. He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for today.
