Police dogs help apprehend fugitive Mongrel Mob member

A PATCHED Mongrel Mob member was left licking his wounds in Dunedin Hospital yesterday after being bitten by a police dog following a dramatic car chase.

After refusing to stop for police late on Thursday night, the 30yearold Invercargill man learned the hard way that police dog handlers were ‘‘highly motivated’’ to target and apprehend offenders, Sergeant Mike Calvert, of Dunedin said.

‘‘It was good team work — but there were four dog handlers there,’’ he said.

‘‘Police dogs have a unique ability to target and apprehend offenders.’’

After he allegedly drove his car over road spikes, the gang member was caught, unable to climb a fence before suffering bite wounds when he ran from his vehicle.

He made it 300m before he was arrested by the dog handlers, Sgt Calvert said.

The driver was spotted in what police believed to be a stolen car about 11.10pm in central Dunedin — just as four dog handlers had just finished a training day.

He failed to stop in central Dunedin, and continued through Mornington before ending up in Kaikorai Valley, Green Island and Corstorphine.

Police in Playfair St deployed road spikes, which initially did not stop the car.

The driver continued along South Rd until the car became undriveable on Glen Rd.

‘‘As he decamped, the police dogs apprehended him as he was going over the fence trying to get on to the motorway.’’

The man was wanted on ‘‘numerous’’ charges, but would now also face a raft of driving charges, Sgt Calvert said.