The case of Sharon man accused of assaulting a police dog and leading police on a car and foot chase in Shenango Township is headed to Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

William R. Cypher, 37, of 973 Forker Blvd. faces aggravated assault of a police officer and other charges including cruelty to animals. He appeared Wednesday before District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage.

Cypher's public defender Daniel Davis signed a stipulation that sent the case to county court without holding a preliminary hearing.

On Jan. 9, police saw Cypher speeding on state Route 60, Shenango Township Police Chief Ronald Preston said. Cypher's car reached speeds of about 115 mph, Preston said.

Cypher led police on a 2-mile chase before losing control of the car he was driving and crashing while attempting to get off Route 60 at the state Route 18 exit. He then ran from his car into a brush-covered field, Preston said.

Police sealed off the area and called Sharon patrolman Jeff Brown and his police dog, Yelle. Yelle found Cypher hiding in the field, Preston said.

He said Cypher made threatening moves, as if he had a weapon and Yelle was released on Cypher. The dog and Cypher struggled before Yelle eventually stopped Cypher, Preston said.

Cypher was arrested and treated at UPMC Horizon, Farrell, for bite wounds to his side.

Police said Cypher told them he ran because he didn't have a driver's license and the car he was driving belonged to a friend. At his arraignment before Russo earlier this month, Cypher denied assaulting the dog. "The dog bit me," Cypher said.

Shenango Township and Sharon police said struggling with Yelle is a felony under the state's crime code and a police dog should be treated like a human policeman.

If Cypher had followed plice orders, Yelle wouldn't have gone after him, Sharon police Capt. Michael Menster said.

Cypher also faces robbery, retail theft, simple assault and disorderly conduct charges following a September incident at Wal-Mart in Hermitage where police say Cypher bit an employee.

Police said Cypher was spotted by security walking around the store while hiding a compact disc burner and three DVDs under his clothes. Security stopped him as he tried to leave and a scuffled ensued, during which Cypher bit the employee's arm, police said.