Schoolboy, 14, rushed to hospital after being bitten by police dog while cops ‘chased man with machete’

A SCHOOLBOY was rushed to hospital after being bitten by a police dog while cops hunted a machete-wielding gang in Birmingham.

Armed officers and a dog handler swooped on a street in Kingstanding after a man reported he had been chased by a group of yobs brandishing the weapons.

The police dog bit the 14-year-old as police tried to detain him at around 8.20pm on October 11.

The extent of his injuries was not reported, but an ambulance was called to the scene.

However, West Midlands Police officers ended up driving him to the hospital themselves so he could receive "swift medical attention".

The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray and remained on police bail as cops continue to investigate.

Three other boys, aged 17, and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and released on police bail pending further enquiries.

The force has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Complaints.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called to Finchley Road, Birmingham, at 8.20pm on Tuesday, October 11 by a man saying he'd been chased by a group brandishing machetes.

"Armed police and a dog handler responded and a police dog was deployed after the group ran off.

"A 14-year-old was bitten a police dog as we attempted to detain him.

"An ambulance was immediately called, but officers drove him to hospital themselves to ensure he got swift medical attention.

"The 14-year-old was arrested at the scene and remains on police bail as enquiries continue.

"Our Professional Standards Department has referred the matter to the IOPC.

"Three other boys aged 17 and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and released on police bail pending further enquiries."

We previously told how a schoolboy had to have stitches in his leg after he was mauled by a trainee police dog at a cop's home.

Sergeant Fleur Tedshill, an experienced dog handler for West Midlands Police, had been looking after the training pup at her home in Brierley Hill, Birmingham.

The nine-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being bitten by the dog on Christmas Day last year.