Last week, the Kent Police Department took to social media to share a rather unconventional tale of a pursuit. The chase, which began on the East Hill of Kent after midnight, involved a Honda with no license plates, a foot race, and a K9 named Gambit with a knack for tracking — and for uncovering evidence in the form of a sock, according to the department's post.
The incident began when Officer Flowers, on a routine patrol around 12:15 a.m., attempted to stop a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old Seattle man, who chose not to stop and instead sped away, prompting the officer to chase. However, Flowers had to eventually disengage when the suspect began to drive more erratically, including turning off the vehicle's headlights. The car was later found crashed into a fire hydrant and a parked vehicle on Summit Ave., the driver and his passenger having fled the scene on foot — the driver leaving behind one shoe in his haste, as detailed by the Kent Police Department.
Backup officers quickly located the passenger concealed behind a bush, but the driver remained at large until K9 Gambit and Officer Flesher were called in for assistance. The K9 team spent over 40 minutes tracking the suspect, ultimately finding him hidden in heavy foliage after Gambit retrieved a sock — an undeniable clue since the suspect had lost one of his shoes during the incident.
The suspect, who had incurred injuries while on the run, was eventually persuaded to cooperate by the presence of K9 Gambit, "can be quite persuasive," the department noted. Once in custody, the man was taken to a local hospital to ensure his condition was stable enough for incarceration. He was deemed medically fine and later booked for eluding.
The Kent Police Department ended their account with a clear message to potential offenders: "We are hoping that the suspects read our page. If they do, they should be noticing that it’s just not in our officers’ DNA to give up on a call. If you commit crimes here in Kent, and victimize our residents, we are going to find you."
