Penalty bites driver
There was a lesson in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court yesterday for dog owners who fail to keep their four-legged friends off the streets.
The court was told a little dog running down the centre of a Utakarra street had been struck by a car and killed on March 31.
The incident happened about 10.30pm, when police were in the vicinity on another matter.
There was another lesson for the driver of the car, Arun Tharappel George, who kept driving after hearing a bump, his lawyer said.
Police followed him and charged him with careless driving.
George’s lawyer said he did not realise he had struck the dog until stopped by police.
George pleaded guilty and was fined $300 and ordered to pay costs of $151.
Meanwhile, police dog Bucky has a message for anyone looking to get away from him — do not run.
A 34-year-old Geraldton man learnt this the hard way on Tuesday, when Bucky, the recent prize recruit to the Geraldton police force, caught him.
The man was wanted in relation to outstanding warrants and was arrested in Spalding about 11.15am.
He had been evading police since mid-March.
Geraldton police Sergeant Andrew Ramsden said Bucky played a crucial role in tracking offenders, the suppression of anti-social behaviour and drug detection.
