The 42-kilogram German shepherd's first adventure happened by accident when he and his handler, Vancouver police Const. Ray Wong, were driving to an incident at about 12:30 a.m. At Kingsway and Gladstone streets, their lights and siren apparently spooked the driver of a grey Mercedes, who made a quick turn to get away from the cruiser but collided with another car.
The 21-year-old Vancouver man ran from his car, not knowing the police cruiser hadn't been chasing him in the first place, nor that it carried a police dog. Bear was set loose and brought down the man.
About three hours later, Vancouver police surrounded a house just two blocks away, on East 28th Street, where a home invasion was in progress. When the two suspects tried to leave the house, one was detained by police and the other was brought down not too gently by Bear, winding up in hospital with a serious bite wound in his leg. The two men, from Burnaby and New Westminster and both 26, face several charges. Police later found a grow-op in the house basement.
At 6 p.m., Bear and Wong were investigating a report of theft from a vehicle in the 2600-block East 41st Avenue. Wong soon spotted a man on a bicycle carrying what looked like the stolen goods. The man fled, outpacing officers chasing him on foot. Wong followed in his cruiser, sending Bear on the chase. Bear caught up to the cyclist and knocked him down, allowing officers to make the arrest. A 43-year-old Vancouver man was charged with theft under $5,000.
In 2002, Wong likely saved Bear's life when the dog was electrocuted on the job. Wong performed mouth-to-snout resuscitation on the way to the animal clinic, reviving his partner.
pseverinson@png.canwest.com
