Police in Waterloo, Ontario released this photo of Matthew Perron after he was suspected to be traveling with a missing 13-year-old girl.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Waterloo Regional Police
September 01, 2022 - 7:00 AM
A man who’s locked up in the Oliver Correctional Centre is suing the cop who arrested him because the officer’s dog allegedly gnawed on his leg.
In a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Aug. 30, Matthew Perron is seeking compensation from the Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Public Safety and Cpl. Phil Sullivan of the RCMP.
Multiple injuries were inflicted upon Perron by Sullivan during an arrest, the suit claims. It says he was injured while being arrested on Sept. 9, 2021.
That same day, the Waterloo Regional Police in Ontario issued a release about a missing 13-year-old girl, advising the public she may be in Western Canada with Perron. It was then updated to say both individuals were located.
Also on Sept. 9 , 2021, Court records show Perron was arrested that day in Cranbrook. He was charged with six offences including wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer. That case is still making its way through the courts.
The arrest took place after Perron was trying to evade arrest by driving away from police. He was stopped by Sullivan, who smashed an RCMP cruiser into the fleeing vehicle
Perron was placed under arrest and told to get out of the vehicle. According to his suit, he saw the dog and agreed to surrender if police moved it back.
Police did not move the dog back before opening the driver’s side door.
Perron claims he placed his hands in the air to surrender to Sullivan.
He alleges while his hands were in the air, Sullivan instructed the dog to attack him, before the dog dragged Perron out of his car, the suit alleges.
The dog bit Perron on the left leg causing the man to fall to the ground. While on the ground the dog continued to bite him.
Perron said he was shouting for the dog to stop biting his leg and alleges one officer said: “I am trying.”
The dog’s jaw remained clenched in Perron from the first point of contact until a handler managed to control the animal after several attempts.
Perron said he suffered a significant bite to his leg and blood loss. He also suffered nerve and muscle damage. When taken to the hospital he was given seven to eight stitches on each side of his leg, he claimed.
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Perron does not request a specific amount of money in the suit but asks for general damages, aggravated and punitive damages, costs related to the lawsuit, damages pursuant to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and any other relief the Court sees fit.
No response has been filed. None of these allegations have been proven in court.
Defendants have 35 days to file a response.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
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