Ice, the Kelowna RCMP dog appears in this 2018 photo.

Image Credit: Submitted

A Kelowna man who tried to sue the RCMP after he was bitten by a police dog during his arrest has been found guilty of attacking the K9. He was also found guilty of stealing an E-Bike and resisting arrest.

Fernando Anacleto Angelo Verde appeared in a Kelowna courtroom Friday, Feb. 28 as BC Provincial Court Judge Dave Ruse read out his verdict.

The judge's words were a far contrast to what Verde had claimed in his court filing three months after the event.

The arrest dates back to Aug. 1, 2020, when Verde spotted an E-Bike parked outside a Kelowna gas station, which its owner had left unattended.

Verde claimed the bike was stolen from a friend of his so he jumped on it and pedalled off.

The police soon caught up with him as he rode down the Okanagan Rail Trail where he came across Const. Reginald Sahay and his police dog Ice.

Verde was going about 30 km/h on the E-bike and the officer shouted "stop police, you're under arrest."

In his court filing, Verde claimed the officer instructed the dog to attack him.

During the trial Verde claimed the brakes didn't work and he swerved to avoid the dog.

However, Judge Ruse didn't see it that way.

"If Mr. Verdi wanted to stop, he could have done so," the Judge said. "I find Mr. Verdi intentionally brought the e-bike into (the dog)."

"Mr. Verdi steered into the eastbound lane, directed towards Ice and collided with Ice. Mr. Verdi did not slow down prior to the collision," the judge said. "(He) could have used the westbound lane which was entirely unobstructed."

Later when in custody Verde had told police he "loved dogs."

The judge said that while he accepted that Verde had an affinity for dogs the evidence showed his actions towards the dog were deliberate.

Once Verde hit the dog with the bike, he ended up on the ground struggling as the Mountie tried to arrest him.

He got punched a couple of times and Ice sunk his teeth into Verde's thigh which caused considerable bleeding.

The dog was covered in blood and was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital. The court heard the blood was from Verde and the dog was OK.

Verde was taken to the emergency department and spent a week in hospital recovering from the dog bite.

The BC police watchdog later investigated the incident and cleared Const. Sahay of any wrongdoing.

Ultimately, Judge Ruse found Verde guilty of theft of the E-bike, resisting arrest and willfully harming a police dog.

The court was adjourned Friday until the end of June for sentencing, which will be nearly five years after the incident happened.

Verde has a lengthy criminal record and is due to stand trial in August for assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose.

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