Kingston man arrested after kicking service dog

A local man has been arrested and charged after he kicked a service dog in training without provocation in Kingston’s downtown core.

The incident occurred on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2019 when, at approximately 11:50 a.m., the accused man was walking eastbound on Princess Street at the intersection of Montreal Street. The accused approached a man, who was downtown with his service dog and family. Without any provocation, the accused man kicked the service dog in the hind quarters. He then fled on foot south on Montreal Street towards Hotel Dieu Hospital.

According to Kingston Police, Const. Andrew Sullivan, who was working the ‘urban foot patrol’ position at the time, was in the area of Princess Street and Montreal Street. Upon hearing the commotion that ensued following the incident, Sullivan ran to the scene. The Constable then saw the accused man fleeing the scene and initiated a foot pursuit while calling out for the man to stop. After a brief pursuit, Sullivan was able to capture the accused at the entry ramp to Hotel Dieu Hospital on Brock Street. The accused man was arrested for the unprovoked attack, and was taken to Kingston Police Headquarters, where he was later released on conditions with a future court date.

The 48-year-old Kingston man was charged with willfully causing unnecessary pain/suffering to an animal.

The fast-acting Constable Sullivan, who had already been designated as a new urban foot patrol officer in late 2019, will be commencing his new position and patrolling the downtown core on foot in the coming months.