By Pat Grossmith
The Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A city man is nursing some bite wounds after a police dog caught up to him after he ran from an officer, police said.
Steven Beland, 21, was arrested Monday afternoon following a short foot and padded paw pursuit that resulted in police dog Nero chomping on Beland’s ankle, thigh and buttocks.
It began about 4:50 p.m. when Officer John Cunningham was on routine patrol and saw Beland on Montgomery Street.
The officer knew Beland was wanted on two counts of receiving stolen property, charges stemming from an early October burglary of a Montgomery Street garage. Beland, police said, twice pawned tools taken in that burglary.
He was standing in front of 606 Montgomery St. when Cunningham saw him late Monday afternoon. Initially, Beland acknowledged the officer and started walking towards his cruiser but suddenly turned and ran away, according to police.
Cunningham repeatedly yelled at Beland to stop, warning him the dog would be released if he didn’t. When Beland continued his flight, Cunningham released Nero, who caught up to Beland several houses away.
Beland briefly broke free of the dog and ran a short distance before Nero caught him again. This time, Beland hit the dog in the head, causing her to release her grip. He then ran around a fence, out of the dog’s reach.
Beland continued his run around fences and other obstacles - preventing the dog from getting at him - until Officer Brian Karoul joined the chase, hopping a fence at 567 Hevey St. and tackling him. Beland was handcuffed after a brief struggle, Tessier said.
The fence was damaged in the incident, she said.
Beland was treated at a local hospital for the dog bites and Tuesday morning he was arraigned in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division, where he pleaded innocent to misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property (2); resisting arrest (4) and criminal mischief and trial was set for Jan. 24. A probable cause hearing was set for Nov. 7 on a felony charge of interference with a police dog. Bail is a total of $10,000 cash/surety.
Police prosecutor Steven Mangone said Beland has previous convictions, including arson, violation of probation/parole, domestic assault and cruelty to animals. His last conviction, in March 2011, stemmed from an incident Jan. 12 at his then-residence. Beland was arrested after he called police to say he had a knife and he was going to stab his dog and kill himself if police came to his Laurel Street apartment.
The city’s SWAT team was called in and while officers tried to persuade Beland to come out, he leaned out a window twice and, swinging a 16-inch machete, yelled at them to, “Just shoot me. F...ing shoot me!”
After two hours, Beland was taken into custody and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
He was arrested on a variety of charges including a felony count of cruelty to animals for allegedly hitting his pit bull on the head, causing cuts, and stabbing the dog in the left hip.
Copyright 2011 Union Leader Corp.