A teen faces charges that include assault on a police officer and on a police service dog after a soggy incident in Saanichton late Tuesday night.
Around 10:45 p.m. Central Saanich Police got a call about a man attempting to get into vehicles in parking lot at 2530 Mount Newton X Road.
Officers attended, attempted to set up containment and an officer observed a male matching the description of the suspect running east bound on Mount Newton into the public parking access next to the water, according to Central Saanich Police.
The suspect fled. Sidney North Saanich RCMP assisted with containing the area and a Saanich Police Canine Unit as called in. Saanich Police Canine Unit tracked the suspect through the dense bush along the shoreline and the police service dog located the suspect.
"In the process of being apprehended, the suspect kicked the police dog in the head several times and both the police service dog and the suspect fell into the water below," said Cpl. Janis Jean, media liaison for Central Saanich Police. "The police dog was recalled to shore by his handler and the suspect continued to flee."
The Central Saanich fire department boat, with searchlights illuminated the suspect.
"The suspect attempted to flee again, however, the Saanich Canine officer jumped into the water to arrest the him," Jean said. "The suspect, in effort to escape arrest, tried to choke the Saanich Canine Officer. The officer ultimately managed to gain control of the suspect while in the water, handcuffed him and brought him to shore."
A 16 year-old from East Sooke, faces numerous charges including assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and injuring a police service dog.
The Saanich Canine Officer and his dog were not seriously hurt.