The police dog was not injured during the incident. Photo / File
The police dog was not injured during the incident. Photo / File
A police dog took down a man swinging a samurai sword at passing traffic in Upper Hutt early yesterday.
Inspector Shane Cotter said the man swung a sword at a passing motorist in Silverstream about 3.40am yesterday but missed.
He swung again at police when they arrived.
"The man approachedthe dog handler with the sword raised. He was asked to put it down but refused to do so, so the police dog was released and took the man to the ground," Mr Cotter said.
He was taken to Hutt Hospital where he had treatment for dog bites to his leg.
Mr Cotter said in that situation, police would have been justified in using lethal force against the man and armed police were on their way to the scene.
"The police dog handler's actions were brave in the circumstances, obviously everything unfolded very quickly and he took appropriate action to keep himself and the public safe."
The police dog was not injured during the incident, he said.
