‘Good boy’ Gambit: K9 aids arrest after reckless-driving stop in Kent

A K9 unit aided in the arrest of a suspect after he led police on a foot chase in Kent.

According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), troopers were attempting to chase down the suspect on 1st Avenue S. after pulling him over for reckless driving. The suspect initially sped off before abandoning the car and fleeing on foot.

K9 Gambit, and his handler, Officer Flesher, were called to the scene to help search for the now missing suspect.

“Gambit was harnessed up, and loud warnings were given that a K9 was about to search,” the Kent Police Department wrote in a post on Facebook. “Receiving no surrender from the suspect, Gambit was told to ‘seek.’ Gambit wasted no time and quickly began working the suspect’s scent towards a particular back yard fence line. As he worked the fenced area and was rapidly closing in, the commotion must have spooked the suspect. We understand his angst.”

The suspect was attempting to conceal himself better among some bushes in the backyard of a nearby house before a perimeter officer spotted him. He was called out from his hiding spot and taken into custody without further incident.

“Gambit is a good boy, but it is not unusual that his mere presence often provokes suspects to unhide themselves,” the Kent Police Department stated.

In total, the suspect was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, DUI, reckless driving, and eluding police.

“This suspect is not someone we want running around our city,” the Kent Police Department said. “A big thank you to WSP for being present in Kent, to Gambit’s crew for the excellent containment of the scene, and of course to our handsome boy Gambit and his partner K9 Officer Flesher for tracking the suspect and convincing him that giving up was the best option.”

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