The newest member of the Centralia Police Department’s K9 unit, Hector, made his first successful “track and apprehension” Sunday morning, according to police.
Hector’s efforts led to the arrest of a California man who had fled a crash site following police pursuit on Interstate 5 in Lewis County.
"Over the weekend, Washington State Patrol was involved in a pursuit on northbound I-5,” the Centralia Police Department wrote on Facebook. “The suspect vehicle crashed shortly after taking exit 71, striking another vehicle before the driver fled on foot behind the Eagle Truck Plaza in Napavine.”
After receiving a request for K9 support, Hector answered the call and responded to the scene, receiving additional aid from a police drone. The Belgian Malinois reportedly tracked the suspect through multiple storage locations in the industrial business area.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Napavine Police Department also responded to the scene, according to Centralia police.
“The suspect was ultimately located inside a conex box within a large open shop building, attempting to appear asleep and unaware of his surroundings,” the department wrote.
Law enforcement arrested the suspect, Emmanuel C. Coa. The 20-year-old from Santa Clara, California, was then booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 11:56 a.m. Jan. 18.
“Great work by all agencies involved and an outstanding debut for Hector,” the Centralia Police Department wrote.
Hector and his handler, Officer Daniel Cox, make up half of the department’s K9 unit, along with K9 Havik and Officer Kyle Stockdale.
The department announced the addition of Hector and Cox last December.
The Centralia Police Department’s K9 program is “funded completely through public donations,” according to the agency, and is supported by the Centralia Police K9 Association.
