CLOVERDALE — A police dog handler is recovering from his injuries after his K-9 Unit SUV rolled down a gully and crashed into a ditch in Cloverdale on Thursday night.
The officer was trying to stop an erratic, prohibited driver who led police on an hour-long “dangerous driving spree†throughout South Surrey and Cloverdale, Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr said.
The RCMP Air 1 helicopter started following the prohibited driver in South Surrey at about 9 p.m., after police received several 911 calls about a Pontiac Trans Am speeding, running lights and driving into oncoming traffic.
Eventually police arrested the driver, a 26-year-old Langley man, near 51B Avenue and 192nd Street. Carr said they recovered stolen licence plates, burglary tools and keys from the Trans Am.
“Prolific offenders will often steal vehicle or licence plates and use them to commit other crimes,†Carr noted. “In this case, the suspect put the lives of our officers and the public at risk through dangerous driving despite facing a ten-year driving prohibition,†Carr said. The suspect’s name hasn’t yet been released pending formal charges, but Carr said police know him well.
The injured K-9 Unit officer, who was airlifted to hospital, has been released. “The police dog was checked over by a veterinarian, is uninjured and now at home with his handler,†Carr added.
tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com
