A 35-year-old man has been charged with assault of a police officer and dog after being located at a Kilsyth address on Monday 19 September.
Police responded to reports of people seen breaking into vehicles on Edgar Avenue Cranbourne South about 6.30am on Sunday 18 September.
As the Dog Squad officer approached the scene, he was allegedly assaulted and hit over the head.
A struggle ensued and the police dog was deployed before the alleged offender was bitten on the leg.
It’s alleged the assailant drove off, dragging the police dog alongside the car as the dog was still attached to his leg.
The dog let go after the driver tried to close the door on him.
The male leading senior constable was taken to hospital for a check-up and the police dog taken to the vet for treatment.
The vehicle was later found burnt out on Langley Boulevard in Lang Lang.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged the man of no fixed address with assault police, resist arrest, intentionally cause injury, use prohibited weapon without exemption, attempted theft from motor vehicle, intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, disqualified driving and criminal damage by fire.
He was remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 September.
Charges related to injuries sustained by police dog Duke are expected to be laid at a later date.