An arrest using a police dog has been justified by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).
The man was arrested after he was caught driving a stolen car in the Rotorua region.
At 3:35am on April 24 2021 a police dog handler saw the car in question had stopped 20 kilometres south of Rotorua. When the dog handler approached the vehicle, the driver stepped out and walked toward him.
"After being told he was under arrest by the police dog handler, the man involved in this incident became assaultive and resisted arrest, leading to a prolonged struggle," Rotorua Area Commander Inspector Phil Taikato said in statement.
"The incident took place in a remote location, where back-up for the dog handler was some distance away."
A police dog was used to arrest the man, which Insp Taikato said was "entirely appropriate and justified".
The man was charged over the stolen car as well as resisting arrest and assaulting the dog handler and his dog. Police also informed the IPCA after the man was bitten and needed surgery.
In a report published on Tuesday, the IPCA found that using the police dog to arrest the man was justified as back-up for the dog handler was too far away at the time.
"Because of the likelihood of injury caused by a biting dog, we consider the use of a Police dog to be a significant use of force, only justifiable in specific circumstances," IPCA chair Judge Colin Doherty said in a statement.
"In this case, however, the dog handler was on his own, without immediate back-up facing an offender intent on both resisting and assaulting him; a situation where the use of the dog was justified."
