The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deployed one of its K9s twice on Sunday, June 18, for unrelated incidents.
“It was quite the night for K9 Bowie, he had a two'fer!” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post on Monday.
The first incident, which deputies were dispatched to just after 7:30 p.m. on June 18, was a report of a man strangling and assaulting a woman on the side of the road in Bucoda. The man fled on foot when deputies arrived, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies established probable cause for domestic violence second-degree assault and violation of a no contact order charges, then set up a containment area and dispatched K9 Bowie and his handler, Deputy Joel Nault.
K9 Bowie tracked to an unoccupied residence, where a deputy spotted the suspect inside.
“The male refused to come out and shut the door on K9 Bowie when K9 Bowie tried to get inside,” then “ran out the back side of the residence and stole a bicycle from a nearby house,” according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
“Ultimately, the male was not able to pedal faster than K9 Bowie, who chased him straight into numerous deputies sitting on containment and deputies giving chase on foot,” according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Thurston County Corrections Facility for domestic violence second-degree assault, third-degree theft, residential burglary, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of narcotics, and two counts of violation of a no contact order.
“Thank you to the citizens of Bucoda for their active assistance by calling in updates,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post on Sunday. “We appreciate you!”
Later the night of June 18, Lewis County Sheriff Derek Sanders was reportedly aiding deputies and Lacey police officers in a search for a vehicle suspected of committing a hit-and-run on Martin Way East when he clocked a black sedan driving 95 mph in a 40 mph zone. clocked a “Based on the time of night on a holiday weekend, lane travel, and excessive speed, a pursuit was initiated for suspicion of DUI,” Sanders wrote in a Facebook post Monday morning.
Sanders and a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy “pursued the vehicle until they realized they couldn’t simply drive away, at which point they gave up trying to flee in a car and drove into a wooded area off Sleater-Kinney Road Northeast and fled on foot,” according to Sanders. “Our city partners quickly assisted us with setting up containment, and for the second time in one shift, K9 Bowie and Deputy Nault’s services were requested.”
Deputies soon learned the vehicle was stolen, according to Saunders, who said “I was able to observe a short barrel AR15 by the center console.”
K9 Bowie reportedly tracked and located the female driver, who was “hiding up a tree,” according to Sanders.
She was arrested and booked into the Thurston County Corrections Center for attempting to elude, DUI, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a Glock was located on the floorboard. The AR15’s serial number was scratched off, and drug paraphernalia was scattered throughout the car, according to Sanders.
“Needless to say, these are the individuals driving around our county recklessly and fleeing law enforcement on a daily basis. Last night the stars aligned and we were able to articulate observed suspicion of DUI, but 99 times out of 100 under current state law, these individuals are able to drive away unlawfully possessing guns in stolen cars,” Sanders stated in a Facebook post.
K9 Bowie, a German shepherd, received his K9 certification alongside cousin and fellow Thurston County K9 Igo on March 30, 2022, according to previous reporting by Thurston County Talks. The dogs, who replaced K9s Jaxx and Dexter, came from Blue Line K9 in Rochester.
“Remember the TCSO K9 unit is supported by this community and we enjoy getting to work for you,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post on Monday.
