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A Kelowna man has sued local RCMP following what he claims was a vicious attack by a police dog and officer on Aug. 1.
In recently filed court documents, Fernando Verde claims he required immediate surgery due to significant injuries following the attack, but an ambulance wasn't immediately called by police.
The civil suit begins with Verde walking through Rutland where he spotted and recovered a friend’s stolen e-bike from a known thief nicknamed “Bike Mike”.
“Upon leaving the gas station and unknown to the plaintiff, the police were in the parking lot at the time that the plaintiff was riding away from the gas station,” said the civil claim.
“Unbeknownst to the plaintiff, the police began to follow him.”
Kelowna RCMP officer Const. Reginald Sahay followed Verde and intercepted him along the Okanagan Rail Trail near Hardie Road.
“Upon seeing the plaintiff, Sahay instructed the dog to attack the plaintiff,” said civil claim. “As a result of the altercation with the dog, the plaintiff fell off the e-bike and landed on the ground.
“While the dog was mauling the plaintiff, Sahay was punching and kicking the plaintiff in the head and ribs at the same time.”
The suit claims an ambulance was not immediately called despite the fact Verde had suffered "obvious" injuries and was bleeding from multiple dog bites.
“The plaintiff’s injuries were so severe that he lost consciousness and had to be resuscitated at KGH and had emergency surgery to repair his left superficial femoral artery,” said the claim.
“The plaintiff was kept in KGH for intravenous antibiotic therapy and aggressive wound care. The plaintiff lost a significant amount of blood.”
Verde has a long criminal record related to property crime offences, but the suit claims he was not charged following this incident.
Const. Davidson of the Kelowna RCMP is also named in the suit, which claims she made no attempt to stop the dog of Sahay.
The attack is under investigation by BC’s Independent Investigations Office.
None of the claims have been proven in court.
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