‘Disturbing’ footage shows dog ejected from car after Pierce County chase
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- A dog was ejected from a vehicle that crashed after a police pursuit in Key Peninsula.
- The dog is “OK,” according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
- The car’s driver was arrested on suspicion of drugs, animal cruelty and other crimes.
A recent traffic stop on the Key Peninsula was expected to be routine until the driver fled and crashed the vehicle, ejecting a large dog from the front windshield, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The “disturbing” incident took place at about 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 6, the Sheriff’s Office said in posts to its social media channels and website.
Law enforcement footage from the brief pursuit showed the vehicle hit an embankment at the end of a T-intersection in a residential area. At the moment of collision, a large, black dog is seen flipping into the air from the front of the vehicle and appearing to land on the car’s hood before scurrying off.
A smaller dog was located behind the driver’s seat, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said both dogs were “OK” and that the larger canine had run off to a nearby property.
The pursuit, lasting less than 30 seconds, started when deputies tried to pull the vehicle over for expired registration, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Drugs and drug paraphernalia were located on the 39-year-old male driver, authorities said. He was arrested on suspicion of eluding police, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and second-degree animal cruelty, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A 28-year-old woman who was a passenger, and identified as the owner of both dogs, was released from the scene because there was no probable cause to arrest her, the Sheriff’s Office said. In body-camera footage, a deputy detaining her could be heard telling her: “You’re so lucky you’re not dead right now.”
“The impact drugs have had on our community is heart-wrenching, especially when it involves our furry friends,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carly Cappetto said in a video Friday describing the pursuit and its aftermath.
