A North Vancouver resident is upset and angry at the treatment he alleges he received from police when he was seemingly mistaken for a criminal suspect.
On the evening of Nov. 3 and into the early hours of Nov. 4, Ron Chisholm, a resident of the 1000-block of Mountain Highway, was visiting friends in Lower Lonsdale.
He stopped at a friend's home in the 500-block of East Keith Road around 10 p.m. On foot, he left around 1:30 a.m. headed for another friend's house in the 200-block of East Third Street. His knocks went unanswered, so he headed back to the previous residence. Just after 2 a.m., he said he was unnecessarily attacked by a police dog.
He was told the officer had called out to him prior to the use of the dog; however, Chisholm claims he didn't hear him.
"I have really bad hearing," Chisholm, 40, said. He doesn't wear hearing aids, but he said he took lip-reading lessons when he was a child. Chisholm's mother told the North Shore News that all of his family is aware of his hearing problem.
By chance, he turned around and saw a police dog and handler running toward him, he alleges. "As soon as I (saw) the police dog and handler coming at me, I stopped," he said.
However, the dog allegedly continued to run at him and bit him three times and then did not let go after a fourth bite. Other officers attended the scene.
Chisholm was then sent to Lions Gate Hospital by ambulance, suffering a wound situated between his right knee and waist requiring 20 to 30 stitches.
Chisholm said he was told a break-in had occurred at an area business. He was told he matched the description of the suspect.
As a result of his injuries and pain, Chisholm missed his aunt's funeral the next day. He has also been limited in his search for new employment as his major means of transportation is walking and public transportation.
Chisholm said he has never been in trouble with police before, except for a speeding ticket issued while riding his motorcycle.
"I don't have anything against the police," he said.
However, he's concerned that someone could be treated in the same manner prior to their true involvement in a crime being known. He said he knows nothing of the alleged break and enter.
"I kind of always thought you were innocent or whatever, until you were (proven) guilty," he said.
He has looked into retaining a lawyer, however, has been unsuccessful to date.
"He was seen leaving the area of a break and enter and he failed to comply with directions given to him by a police dog handler," said Const. John MacAdam, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, in regard to the alleged incident. MacAdam said those commands were numerous, simple, and direct.
"At this time, it's still under investigation and we're still considering forwarding charges on the matter against him," MacAdam said. Chisholm is in the process of filing a complaint with the North Vancouver RCMP.
He will have to file one with the West Vancouver Police Department as well, as the handler and dog involved in the alleged incident were members of that police force, not the RCMP, said MacAdam.
In addition, a complaint could also be filed through the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner of British Columbia.
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