December 26, 2019 – Washington Co., WI – On Christmas Eve, K9 Ryker, our 2-year-old Belgium Malinois, tracked down a felon who fled from a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy on a traffic stop.
The incident began around 7:39 p.m. on December 24 after a 25-year-old Village of Kewaskum man was stopped for an equipment violation on Pleasant Valley Road in the Town of Polk. The man provided two different names to the investigating deputy, and then fled the scene in his vehicle while the deputy was speaking with him.
The suspect, who was on parole for felon in possession of a firearm, was able to elude the deputy by driving down a long residential driveway about two miles from the initial traffic stop. The suspect then drove around the back of the home to conceal his car. The alert homeowner contacted the sheriff’s office to report the suspicious vehicle.
Ryker, and his handler Deputy Jonathan Doran, arrived on scene and were able to pick up the suspect’s scent from items left in the abandoned vehicle. Ryker tracked the suspect for about 400 yards before locating him hiding underneath a fallen tree.
According to Sheriff Martin Schulteis, “During this investigation a felon was tracked down and arrested. Tomorrow, Ryker could locate a missing endangered child or take dangerous drugs out of our community. We are fortunate to have such a valuable public safety resource to serve our community.”
The suspect is currently incarcerated at the Washington County Jail and in facing multiple charges including felony eluding, possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia, obstructing and multiple traffic citations.
