A man found loitering in an industrial Christchurch yard this morning has been arrested after allegedly attacking a police officer and trying to choke and break a police dog's leg.
Christchurch Police Senior Sergeant Craig Scott said the incident occurred in Horby around 6.30am.
The 20-year-old man was traced by an officer with a police dog after reports of his suspicious behaviour in the industrial part of town, Mr Scott said.
He then attacked the handler and the dog - trying to choke the dog and then bending its leg with the aim of snapping it, he said.
Both the dog and the handler escaped without injury, Mr Scott said.
"It was quite a violent struggle. The result was he was arrested with some dog bites.
"He resisted arrest for a start, he was sprayed but the spray didn't work. He tried to choke the dog and then tried to break its leg, trying to bend its leg to snap it."
The man will appear in court tomorrow charged with assaulting a police officer and dog.
He may also face further serious charges, Mr Scott said.
- Lauren Priestley of NZME News Service
