K9 Enzo Plucks Suspect from His Hiding Spot
Spokane Valley K9 Enzo led Deputies to the location of a suspect who fled on foot from the vehicle he was driving. The suspect, 36-year-old Shane S. Rupert, was arrested and booked into jail for a felony warrant, Resisting Arrest and Driving while Suspended 3rdDegree after he received medical attention.
On August 6, 2018, at approximately 3:10 a.m., Spokane Valley Sergeant Jared Kiehn observed a black van traveling south on Bowdish from Sprague. Sergeant Kiehn recognized the van, from previous contacts, as one normally driven by Rupert and clearly observed Rupert driving the van as it passed his location.
Sergeant Kiehn checked Rupert’s name on his mobile computer and found Rupert’s driving status was suspended and he had an active felony warrant (Possession of a Controlled Substance) warrant for his arrest.
Sergeant Kiehn attempted to contact Rupert near the 200 block of S. Bowdish where he had pulled over to the side of the road, exited his van and began to walk away. Rupert initially stopped when ordered and told he had a warrant for his arrest. He then turned back toward Sergeant Kiehn yelling there wasn’t a warrant and he had paperwork. Rupert was advised he was under arrest but instead of surrendering, Rupert suddenly bolted from the scene. Rupert ran down the Appleway Trail, through an open field and eventually jumped over a fence into an apartment complex located in the 11400 block of E. 4th Avenue.
A perimeter was quickly established by assisting Deputies and multiple K9 announcements advising Rupert to surrender or a K9 would be used to find him.
Deputy Phil Pfeifer and his partner K9 Enzo arrived to conduct a track to locate Rupert. With the assistance of Deputy Jason Hunt and Deputy Logan Henry, K9 Enzo tracked west from Bowdish along the Appleway Trail, south through the open field and over the fence into the apartment complex. K9 Enzo tracked to a large, thick set of bushes next to the doors of the occupied apartments. Deputy Pfeifer gave another K9 announcement which went unanswered before allowing K9 Enzo to enter. Suddenly, the suspect’s hat fell to the ground from the bushes.
Deputy Hunt, who had moved to the other side of the bushes, located Rupert attempting to hide on a second-floor balcony, next to an apartment door. When he tried to detain Rupert, Rupert struggled and pulled away, falling back into the bushes almost pulling Deputy Hunt with him. K9 Enzo contacted Rupert’s lower leg and dragged him out. Rupert continued to struggle and try to pry K9 Enzo’s mouth from his leg despite commands from Deputy Pfeifer to stop fighting. Rupert was subdued by the Deputies and safely taken into custody.
Three occupants who remained in the vehicle and were contacted were released without charges.
Rupert received medical treatment prior to being transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for his felony warrant in addition to new charges of Resisting Arrest and Driving while Suspended 3rd Degree.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer