Police dog stabbing has Thunder Bay connection

A man with a criminal history in Thunder Bay faces charges in Edmonton after an incident in which a police dog that was pursuing him was fatally wounded.

Edmonton police have charged 27-year-old Paul Joseph Vukmanich with dangerous driving, possession of a dangerous weapon, cruelty to an animal and other offences.

The dog was stabbed repeatedly Monday morning after police tracked down the driver of a stolen car.

Police say Vukmanich was wanted on Canada-wide warrants for armed robbery in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.

In 2010 he was sentenced to three years for robbing a Thunder Bay taxi driver.