Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man accused of threatening people with a large knife at Spanaway Lake Park on Friday night after a police dog tracked him down hiding in brush near a walking path.
Deputies say Pierce County Park employees called 911 around 7:15 p.m. and reported a man was threatening to kill people. Police dog Coda and his handler quickly responded to search for the suspect. The K-9 found the man hiding in some brush near a walking path.
The 56-year-old was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault. No injuries were reported. The quick apprehension prevented what could have escalated into a violent confrontation at a popular recreation area where families frequently gather.
The use of the K-9 unit allowed deputies to locate the suspect without prolonged searching through wooded areas where he could have remained hidden or posed additional danger to responding officers. Police dogs trained in tracking can follow scent trails even when suspects attempt to conceal themselves in vegetation or other cover.
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