New Westminster police have taken over the investigation of a police-dog mauling of a North Surrey teenager during an arrest early Saturday morning.

Surrey Mounties were called out to a break-and-enter at a convenience store in a gas station in the 14900-block of 108th Avenue at around 2 a.m.

Uniformed officers, including a police dog and its handler, arrived and saw two suspects fleeing the scene. A 16-year-old male was apprehended by the police dog, but was bitten several times in the face and arm during the takedown.

“We are concerned with the injuries sustained by the 16-year-old,” said RCMP Chief Supt. Janice Armstrong. “Given the circumstances, we have placed the dog handler on administrative duties, and his police dog has been removed from operational duty while the New Westminster Police Department conducts their investigation.”

The Lower Mainland District RCMP requested the independent review of the incident.

Armstrong said the dog handler has about eight and a half years with the RCMP and nearly a year and a half in dog services.

The independent probe, she added, will determine whether the use of the police dog followed RCMP policy and wasn’t excessive given the circumstances.

The investigation comes only days after a Vancouver man sued the Vancouver Police Department after his leg was allegedly ravaged by a police dog during an arrest in June.