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By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh.
Vision has been captured of the moment a wanted man believed to have given a false name to police was apprehended in Adelaide’s south, with the threat of an unleashed police dog proving the last straw to finally bring the man otherwise unwilling to surrender on his knees.
According to the exclusive footage from 9News, on 17 June 2020, a police chase unfolded in the southern suburb of Reynella involving several officers pursuing the 25-year-old man on foot from street to street.
In the footage, police can be seen hounding the man through the yards of several homes while he jumps over fences.
Nevertheless, while the officers came ready to pounce on him and even had him surrounded, he was not willing to surrender.
In the few frantic moments to follow, one officer is heard repeatedly warning the man that the dog he holds will soon be let loose, repeatedly warning him that he is “going to release him”.
He can then be heard yelling out multiple times, “Get on the ground now”.
Indeed, at the threat of being hurled down by the vicious police dog, the man finally succumbed to authorities.
Had it not been for the intimidating canine, police believe he may have gotten away once more.
The incident left residents forced into their homes, nervously watching on from their windows as the scene unravelled.
The man was wanted on two counts of providing a false name to police.
He had also allegedly committed two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of speeding.
It is an offence to provide false or misleading information to a public authority, a person who is exercising or performing any power under or in connection with the law.
In NSW, this is set out in section 307B of the Crimes Act 1900 and there is a maximum penalty of two years in jail, or a fine of $22,000, or both, for any such offence.
Section 307B outlines that a person is guilty of providing false or misleading information to a person if the person gives information, knowing that the information is false or misleading, or knowingly omits any matter or thing without which the information is misleading where:
- the information is given to a public authority; or
- the information is given to a person who is exercising or performing any power, authority, duty or function under, or in connection with, a law of the State; or
- the information is given in compliance or purported compliance with a law of the State.
Click here for an outline of the defences to the offence of providing false or misleading information.
The Role of Police Dog Squads
In the aforementioned case, police believe that had it not been for the threat of the police dog, the wanted man would have likely gotten away once again.
Police dogs are a specialist resource with the primary role of providing support to police in various operations, including foot patrols, pursuits and rescues.
They are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
In NSW, the NSW Police Dog Unit provides a support service for all operational police across the state.
NSW Police Force advises this was established in 1932, with the intention of the dogs to be used for searches, rescues and apprehending offenders.
Today, The Unit’s objective is to provide specialist canine services such as general purpose, drug, firearms/explosive detection and human remains dogs.
Dogs from the NSW Police Dog Unit are each carefully evaluated to see if it has the necessary intelligence and temperament to become a police dog.
It then undergoes an intensive training program with its handler, who teaches the dog obedience, protection of its master, and extensive police dog duties.
A strong bond is developed between the dog and its handler.
NSW Police Dog Unit dogs are amongst the best trained in the world and comprise various breeds, including German Shepherd, Labrador, Rottweiler and Malinois.
Currently, English Springer Spaniels are also being introduced.
NSW Police Force Welcomes Three New German Shepherd Pups to Team
In June 2019, the NSW Police Force welcomed three new 12-week-old German Shepherd puppies to their team.
In keeping with the recruiting tradition, they were given names starting with the letter “A” and thus became part of the “A” litter.
The pups were named by children in coordination with NSW Police Legacy – two of the males being called Anzac and Apollo, while for the female pup, the name Ava was picked.
According to Inspector Darren Wood, the puppies would need at least 18 months of initial training before getting on the frontline.
“We’re looking at around 18 months to two years of initial training,” said Inspector Darren Wood.
“At the moment they’re in socialisation training where we’re getting the pups out around train stations and shopping centres – getting them used to the outdoor environments where they’ll be working in when they’re older.”
Inspector Wood also said when it came to working with the Dog Unit, they would be specifically looking for officers who love the animals and have the energy to meet the agility needs of the dogs.
Have a question? Get in touch with an experienced criminal lawyer today.
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