A fugitive in Michigan didn't get far Friday, with a Michigan State Police canine tracking her down through miles of swamp and forest after a hit-and-run with a cyclist, officials reported. The action-packed pursuit began when troopers were alerted to a crash on Kurick Road near Dzuibanek Road in Springdale Township at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, CBS News Detroit reported.
Upon arrival, they encountered a scene where a 41-year-old Traverse City woman, who initially claimed to be the one behind the wheel, turned out to be just the passenger, having switched spots with the driver, a 35-year-old Benzonia woman. With a warrant already out for her arrest, the driver had decided to flee the crash site on foot, leading to an extensive search that unfolded in the dense backwoods of Manistee County, UpNorthLive noted.
The canine team, composed of Trooper Unterbrink and his trusty canine compatriot, Ox, was called to aid in the chase. They diligently worked their way through about five miles of challenging terrain, which no doubt tested the endurance of both the officer and his four-legged partner. An MSP Canine Team was called to the scene and a perimeter was established. The canine and his handler tracked the woman "through approximately five miles of swamp and thick forest," state police said, as reported by WWJ Newsradio.
The woman's luck ran out when she emerged from the woods onto a road and straight into the arms of awaiting law enforcement. She was subsequently booked into the Manistee County Jail, pending her arraignment. Inside the abandoned vehicle, troopers discovered methamphetamine and a stun gun, further complicating the suspect's legal woes. Meanwhile, the injured cyclist, a 73-year-old Thompsonville woman, was given care at the local Munson Medical Center in Frankfort with injuries that were not life-threatening, authorities confirmed.
Officers from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians assisted in the incident. The use of K9 units, like the dependable Ox, underscores the invaluable role these canine officers play in law enforcement, proving again they are indeed man's best friend – especially in uniform.
