Saskatoon police canine officers charged in dog bite incidents
Warning: Some readers may find an image contained in this story disturbing.
A pair of Saskatoon police officers are facing assault charges in connection to two unrelated incidents involving police dogs.
The charges come after an investigation by the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), according to a Saskatoon Police Service (SPS).
“I recognize that there may be questions about the next steps that we're going to take with our canine program in light of these charges,” police Chief Troy Cooper said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
“I believe it would be premature to make any significant local changes until the resolution of these criminal matters.”
He emphasized the two incidents are unconnected and the timing of the charges is due to the fact the PCC finished the separate investigations at the same time.
The PCC began looking into the two incidents after formal complaints were filed. The charges were based on the recommendation of Crown prosecutors.
One of the officers charged with aggravated assault is a 13-year SPS member..
Cst. Cole Miklautsch is charged in connection with a July 12, 2019 incident in which a police dog was used to take a suspect into custody following a vehicle chase.
The male suspect was treated in hospital for a dog bite. He was charged with possession of the stolen property and evading police, according to police.
'HE TOOK A BLOODY CHUNK'
Justin Soroka, 29 was the man taken into custody during the 2019 incident.
"All I hear is 'quit resisting, I'm releasing my dog' and that was it, I blacked out (when) the dog bit me," Soroka told CTV News.
"I ended up enduring a rupture to my Achilles, I had tendons completely severed. I had 45 stitches and 56 staples throughout six months of healing and surgeries."
He admits that he was not in the "right state of mind" and was "on drugs and drinking" at the time.
However, he claims multiple officers had already subdued him and believes that Miklautsch should not have deployed the dog.
"He took a bloody chunk out of my skin. It wasn't like he just quickly bit me to get me to stop."
An undated image shows Soroka's injury. (Courtesy Justin Soroka)
Soroka said he has made changes in his life and that he and his spouse are expecting a child.
"I would have taken a boot the face (over) my leg being completely mauled and maimed and looking like this for the rest of my life."
During the news conference on Thursday, Deputy Chief Mitch Yuzdepski said police dogs are trained to default to "as full of a bite as you can possibly get."
"When a dog engages someone … they're trained to actually bite and hold on. And, you know, if I have a training sleeve on, for instance, I can actually pick the dog up while he's holding on to my arm and swing the dog around so the dog doesn't release that grip," Yuzdepski said.
2020 INCIDENT
Cst. Dennis Baron, also a 13-year member, is charged with aggravated assault in connection to a June 1, 2020 incident in which police responded to a reported break-in at a fenced compound.
A male matching the description of the suspect was seen running from the scene, according to police.
A police dog was used in the suspect's arrest and he was treated for a dog bite.
He was charged with break and enter, drug possession and breach of conditions.
The two officers will be assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
The police dogs involved in the incidents have been temporarily taken out of service, according to Cooper.
They are scheduled to appear in court on May 18 at 2 p.m.
-With files from Nicole Di Donato
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada sending more artillery to Ukraine, 'crucial' to fight against Russia: Anand
Canada is sending an additional 20,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine for the Ukrainian military to use in its ongoing defence against the Russians. This ammunition—155mm calibre, as well as fuses and charge bags—is being donated, but comes at a cost of $98 million, according to the federal government.

Power outages persist across Ontario and Quebec as death toll rises
Power outages caused by the powerful and deadly storm that swept across Ontario and Quebec on Saturday are stretching into another day, as hydro providers warned customers they could be waiting even longer for service to be fully restored.
Experts hope 'ring vaccination' will contain monkeypox outbreaks
An infectious disease expert believes monkeypox outbreaks can be contained by using a strategy called 'ring vaccination' – which means vaccinating all the close contacts of an infected person.
Baby formula: Health Canada monitoring 'potential' sunflower oil shortage
Health Canada says it is preparing for the possibility that a shortage of sunflower oil could further strain baby formula supplies in Canada.
11 killed in shooting attacks on 2 bars in Mexico
Eleven people, eight of them women, were killed in simultaneous shooting attacks on two bars in north-central Mexico, authorities said Tuesday.
Satellite images appear to show Russian ships loading up with Ukrainian grain in Crimea
Russia's theft of Ukrainian grain appears to be ramping up as it continues its war on the country, according to new satellite photos of the Crimean port of Sevastopol.
'The destruction is incredible': 150,000 Ontarians remain without power, says Hydro One
A Hydro One spokesperson says the storm that ripped through Ontario over the long weekend has caused significant damage across the province, and it could still be days before some power outages are restored.
Amber Heard rests case in civil suit without calling Depp
Actor Amber Heard rested her case Tuesday in the civil suit between her and ex-husband Johnny Depp without calling Depp to the stand.
200 bodies found in Mariupol as war rages in Ukraine's east
Workers digging through the rubble of an apartment building in Mariupol found 200 bodies in the basement, Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday, as more horrors come to light in the ruined city that has seen some of the worst suffering of the 3-month-old war.