2 Saskatoon canine unit officers charged with aggravated assault

Two canine unit officers are facing aggravated assault charges in connection with separate incidents dating back to 2019 and 2020 where suspects had to be taken to hospital after being apprehended by police dogs, the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) announced Thursday morning.

The SPS said it was notified by the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) after each incident that formal complaints had been filed and investigations were underway.

On April 21, the police service was informed that — based on the PCC's investigation — the Crown was recommending both officers be charged with aggravated assault.

A provincial court date has been set for next Wednesday. 

Const. Cole Miklautsch is charged in the 2019 incident. Const. Dennis Baron is charged in the other. 

Both officers are assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of court proceedings, the SPS said.

"I want to ensure the public that while today's announcement may be concerning, we have a very highly trained, professional canine unit," Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper said in a news release Thursday.

"We must respect the court process while continuing to take every opportunity to both support our members and review responses to calls for service where use-of-force is required."

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Cooper said it's "premature to make any significant local changes" to the canine program until the criminal matters are resolved. 

This is the first time in the Saskatoon police canine program's 54-year history that the actions of police dogs have led to criminal charges, according to Deputy chief Mitch Yuzdepski.

"We have had past civil complaints or we've had past public complaints," Yuzdepski said Thursday. 

2019 incident

Saskatoon police say that on July 12, 2019, Miklautsch, a 13-year officer assigned to the canine unit, was involved in a case where a man wanted on outstanding warrants evaded officers.

Police say that on that night officers tried to pull over the vehicle the man was driving, but he refused to stop.

A police plane was able to track down the vehicle in an alley behind Milton Street when the suspect took off on foot.

Police say a dog was instructed to stop the suspect to take him into custody. He was later treated in hospital for a dog bite.

Further investigation showed the vehicle the suspect was driving, as well as the licence plate on it, were stolen, police say. The man was later charged with theft, evading police, possessing false identification documents and mischief.

2020 incident

On June 1, 2020, Baron, another 13-year officer — who was also assigned to the canine unit — responded to a break-in at a fenced compound.

Police say this officer was first on the scene that night, and spotted a person who matched the description of a suspect running from the scene.

When the man refused to stop, police say the officer deployed a dog to take the suspect into custody. That suspect was also taken to hospital for treatment of a dog bite.

He was later charged with the break-in, along with the possession of drugs (methamphetamine and mushrooms).