K9 Laslo Makes 4 Captures During One of His Last Shifts
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office K9 Laslo, retired as of today, had an extremely busy Saturday night when he captured 4 suspects during one shift.
Everyone has heard by now K9 Laslo is retiring today and Corporal Jeff Thurman has accepted a detective’s position, but that doesn’t mean this team decided to relax for the last shift or two. This was evident on Saturday, February 25th, 2017 when they helped capture 4 suspects who were charged with multiple crimes during separate calls.
The first incident began at approximately 8:30 p.m., when Corporal Thurman observed a vehicle pull out of a parking lot in a reckless manner near Park on Trent. The vehicle accelerated rapidly and turned southbound on Park at a high rate of speed.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 53-year-old John M. Fay, failed to stop for Corporal Thurman’s lights and siren as he tried to evade capture. After a short pursuit, a large plume of smoke and oil poured from the vehicle as it began to slow on Dora just north of Trent.
Fay jumped from the vehicle he left in gear and began to flee on foot. The vehicle came to rest when it rolled into the curb. Fay failed to follow commands to stop and continued to run after he was told he was under arrest and warned a K9 would be used to capture him.
Corporal Thurman released K9 Laslo who immediately gave chase, quickly caught up to Fay and brought him to the ground. Fay would not show his hands and struggled to get free while trying to push and hit Laslo. Deputy Jeff Getchell arrived to assist and was able to place Fay in handcuffs.
After being advised of his rights, Fay said he ran because he didn’t have a driver’s license and “should have stopped.” He was provided medical treatment before being transported to the Spokane County Jail where he was booked for Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing, Driving while Suspended and a misdemeanor warrant for Driving while Suspended.
During the second incident, K9 Laslo and Corporal Thurman assisted Liberty Lake Police Officers, Spokane Valley Police Officers and Spokane County Deputies apprehend three burglary suspects who fled from a stolen car.
Originally, a citizen reported the suspects appeared to be trying to burglarize storage units in Post Falls and began following their vehicle into Washington. Liberty Lake Police Officers arrived to assist after the vehicle got stuck in a ditch at Kalama and Cavalier and the suspects fled on foot. Officers and Deputies quickly established a perimeter.
The Liberty Lake Officer learned the vehicle was reported stolen and it appeared to be full of stolen property. While perimeter units gave K9 warnings over their PA systems, advising the suspects to surrender and the public to stay inside due to the working K9, Corporal Thurman and K9 Lalso began to search.
First, K9 Laslo found 25-year-old Michael T. Namet hiding behind a storage shed in the back yard of a nearby residence. As Namet began to follow commands and show his hands, Corporal Thurman heard a female scream. Knowing two additional suspects were outstanding, and Namet was complying but not in handcuffs, Corporal Thurman called for immediate backup.
Corporal Thurman could see 39-year-old Teresa A. Rutter and 44-year-old David A. Kropp moving around and trying to conceal themselves around the corner of the shed. The pair failed to follow commands to surrender and show their hands. Suddenly, Rutter stood up in an attempt to flee but K9 Laslo quickly made contact and brought her to the ground. After stopping Rutter, K9 Laslo jumped on Kropp as Corporal Thurman continued to give commands for the pair to show their hands. Once Rutter and Kropp complied, Corporal Thurman called Laslo back to a guard position until Deputy Watts and Deputy Wakem arrived to assist.
All three suspects were taken into custody without further incident and provided medical treatment before they were transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail.
Rutter and Namet said they heard the K9 announcements but failed to surrender. Kropp stated he didn’t know anything and refused to cooperate.
Namet was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.
Rutter was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, a Washington State Department of Corrections Hold and Making False Statements.
Kropp was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and a Washington State Department of Corrections Hold.
This last incident is a perfect example of citizens working with multiple law enforcement agencies to capture suspects and keep our community safe.
Thank you K9 Lalso for helping keep our community and deputies safe. The team of Laslo and Thurman is well known and loved by our community and while we wish you both well in the future, your presence as a K9 Team will be greatly missed.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer