A working hound known as police dog 39 has subdued a man accused of thrashing his way free from custody and spending almost a month on the run.
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James George Borg, 34, of Mount Warrigal, was bitten on his arm and leg after he allegedly disobeyed a police order not to move while in the dog’s presence at Lake Illawarra, Saturday night.
According to police documents considered by Wollongong Local Court on Monday, Borg initially came to police attention on January 8, when number plate recognition technology identified the car he was travelling in as belonging to a member of the Bandidos motorcycle club.
Police stopped the car on 1st Avenue North at Warrawong about 12.20am. They allegedly found a plastic bag containing a crystal substance believed to be methylamphetamine.
Borg became “fidgety” when confronted by police and resisted the early stages of the arrest process, the documents allege.
Police say Borg grew momentarily calm, but then flared again, as one of the officers attempted to place his wrists in handcuffs.
In the ensuring struggle, Borg allegedly kicked an officer and repeatedly thrashed and swung his arms, “making it nearly impossible to contain him”.
He allegedly fell to the ground with a second officer who attempted to subdue him with a harness hold, then pulled the officer’s finger backwards, fracturing it.
Police will allege Borg got to his feet and fled, evading a police perimetre and a police dog who tracked him fruitlessly for 20 minutes.
Police efforts to find Borg were revived about 10.30pm Saturday, when he was allegedly spotted walking on Reddell Parade.
Confronted by police, he allegedly ran through soccer fields behind Lake Illawarra High School, and into a property on Trumper Street, where he hid beneath the house as police dog 39 was brought in.
Police will allege the dog clamped down on Borg after he jumped to his feet and thrust his fist towards the dog handler. He later allegedly kicked his leg towards the dog.
In court on Monday, Borg pleaded not guilty to five of eight charges stemming from his two police encounters.
The court heard he required medical treatment for his wounds and had been placed on a course of antibiotics.
Bail was refused. The matter returns to court March 21.
