Chase into Red River injures officer and K9 - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Chase into Red River injures officer and K9

Posted: Updated:
By Fred Childers - bio | email
Water-logged, dog-bitten and exhausted, the suspect is finally taken into custody after being pulled from the Red River Water-logged, dog-bitten and exhausted, the suspect is finally taken into custody after being pulled from the Red River
SPD K9 Officer Chris Yarborough was bitten as he tried to assist the police dog, while struggling with a resisting suspect SPD K9 Officer Chris Yarborough was bitten as he tried to assist the police dog, while struggling with a resisting suspect
BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) -

The typical laid back shopping scene at the Louisiana Boardwalk was interrupted Wednesday afternoon as patrons watched an injured man covered from head to toe in Red River mud being carried to an ambulance by police and paramedics.

"Please help me, Jesus! They're trying to kill me," the man shouted.

His arrest was the end of a long and dangerous chase which resulted in several injuries, injuries to the suspect, to a Shreveport Police Officer, and his K9.

"This was a very chaotic scene initially. Officers were working very hard to get this suspect into custody," said Sgt. Bill Goodin with the Shreveport Police Department.

It all started in Shreveport when police spotted the suspect's vehicle, which matched a vehicle in a string of nightclub burglaries.

Police say when they initiated a traffic stop the suspect took off, leading police on a car chase into Bossier City. It ended at the end of Traffic Street near the Red River.

"At some point he jumped in the river," said Mark Natale with the Bossier City Police Department.

A k9 was sent in after him, but police say the suspect fought.

"The dog was in obvious distress so the handler got him out immediately," said Natale.

Sgt. Goodin said he saw the dog and it appeared to be very tired, but will be ok.

Once the K9 was rescued the officers' attention once again turned to the suspect, most likely a very tired suspect who had already swam 30 feet out into the Red River, and had already been bitten by the K9. But police say the suspect still wanted to fight.

Natale says a Bossier City Police Officer promptly took his gear off and went into the river to save the man, even though the man was combative the officer was able to pull him out of the water and take him into custody.

The K9 officer who rescued his dog was bitten in the arm, and transported to the hospital with what's described as a serious injury.

The suspect's attempt to lose police left a path of destruction from one side of the river to the other.

After he's treated for his injuries he'll face a slew of charges in Bossier City and Shreveport.

 

Related story:

 

Copyright 2011 KSLA-TV. All rights reserved.