Police dog attack charges denied
The man accused of using his dog to attack a police dog has denied doing so.
Raupurukamu Te-Rohia Brown, 26, pleaded non guilty when he appeared in Tauranga District Court today on a charge of being the dog's owner.
Brown's dog Zion is accused of attacking police dog Yoda as it was tracking an offender in Gate Pa in July.
Police allege Brown's 2-year-old crossbred Staffie jumped the fence, crossed the road and lunged at Yoda, then grabbed it around the throat.
Brown's duty solicitor said her client denied this, and it was actually his dog that was attacked first and it fought back in retaliation.
The matter will now go towards a defended hearing, where Brown is understood to represent himself.
Brown will reappear in court on November 20.
