Man smashed driver's car window, court told

A 19-year-old Rangeway man captured by police dog Bear, initially fled from police because he is allegedly “terrified of dogs”.

He appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court today and was granted bail.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of damaging property, trespass and being an unlicensed person in possession of a firearm.

The court heard the man was a passenger of a vehicle travelling on North West Coastal Highway on Tuesday when he got out at the traffic lights at the intersection of Place Road, approached the vehicle stopped in front and smashed the driver’s window with his fist.

The incident arose from a dispute over money.

Police were conducting patrols in Karloo the next day when they spotted the man in bushland.

He fled to nearby houses, damaging a gate and front door in the process, but Bear and his handler chased and captured him on the front lawn of a Karloo home.

He will be sentenced on August 21.