Police were responding to reports of a domestic-related incident about 1.30am and spoke to a 59-year-old woman outside the home before attempting to speak to a man who had barricaded himself in a rear garage with a dog.
It will be alleged the man verbally abused police before inciting the dog to attack. A short time later, the 52-year-old man was arrested and the dog fled.
About 2am, the woman secured the dog, but as a male sergeant was speaking to her, the dog attacked him, biting his face.
He sustained serious facial injuries and was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital for surgery.
Bankstown Police Inspector Brad Thorn said the officer suffered significant facial injuries when the dog lunged at him and took hold of his lower jaw.
His colleagues provided first aid until paramedics arrived.
“Police were quite upset, the injuries are quite confronting,” Insp Thorn said.
“The officer is doing well considering the circumstances.”
The man was charged with common assault, two counts of set on, urge dog to attack, bite, resist officer in execution of duty, and use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence.
The dog has been seized by Canterbury Bankstown Council.
