K9 Asher nabs suspect on foot after being pursued by Thurston County deputies
By: -----
Thurston County, WA - On February 16th at approximately 2017 hours, K9 Asher and his handler attempted to stop a vehicle on Rich Rd after capturing the driver on radar traveling 96mph in a 35mph zone.
The driver refused to pull over, and a pursuit was initiated throughout the east Olympia area. The driver eventually pulled into a known drug compound and attempted to flee on foot. K9 Asher was sent on a direct take, successfully capturing the suspect.
The K9 kept the suspect apprehended until a backup unit could apply handcuffs and ensure there were no weapons under the suspect where his hands were bunched up. The K9 was inadvertently kicked by the suspect, at which point the dog reengaged before being pulled off the bite as the suspect was detained.
The driver showed signs of impairment, and there was a considerable amount of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A search warrant was authorized to seize the drug paraphernalia from the car and obtain two vials of blood from the suspect to be sent to the crime lab for testing.
The suspect was treated at the hospital and booked into TCSO jail for attempting to elude, DUI, and possession of drug paraphernalia. No charges were filed for harming a police dog, as it was not believed that the suspect intentionally intended to kick K9 Asher.
Impaired drivers traveling nearly triple the speed limit are an imminent threat to the safety of our community, great work by our deputies to intervene before this driver killed someone.