This is the shocking moment a police officer was mauled after a man used his dog as a “weapon” in an attempt to escape a drugs search.
The horrific attack was captured on the bodyworn camera of the officer, who was set upon as he tried to chase a man for a drugs search in north west London.
In the footage, his harrowing screams can be heard as the dog bites down on his leg, while he desperately shouts at the man to “get your dog back”.
He falls to the floor screaming in pain as the dog lunges at him, with the unnamed officer having to Taser to dog to stop the brutal attack.
Michael Foster, 22, of Hendon, pleaded guilty to one charge of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.
He was sentenced to 29 months in jail at Harrow Crown Court on Monday, September 25.
Police had been called to reports of drug dealing taking place in Linklea Close, in Edgware, on Monday, November 28, last year.
But the suspect fled on his bike when he spotted the police car, forcing the unnamed officer to jump out and chase Foster through the street, police said.
At one point in the clip, the officer can be seen grabbing onto the back of the man’s coat, but he wriggles free and hides behind a car.
Foster’s dog can then be seen aggressively barking at the officer before lunging towards him as he screams at the suspect to get his dog under control.
The officer suffered deep cuts to his thigh and was also bitten on the wrist. He was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries.
Sergeant Craig Martin, from Barnet's Gangs Unit, said: "Foster used his dog as a weapon to facilitate his escape from a drugs search.
The attack resulted in the officer receiving serious injuries, which needed hospital treatment. No officer should be attacked for simply carrying out their duty and dogs should never be used as a weapon.”
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