Wednesday night at about 8:45, Hoquiam Police Department Officer Martinez was on patrol in the area of the 400 block of South Adams Street in Hoquiam.

He observed a male carrying a gas can in the area of a trucking company. This location has been the victim of several recent gas thefts. Officer Martinez contacted the subject, who provided his name.

He also noticed there was a pick-up truck parked near the shop. Officer Martinez gave the name of the subject to dispatch, but the subject then fled on foot. Officer Martinez chased the subject who ran into the brush behind a house on Maple Street.

Dispatch advised the subject had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for a probation violation with the original crime being Assault 3rd Degree (weapon or other thing to cause harm).

Officer Martinez requested additional officers respond to the area and asked for the assistance of Aberdeen Police Department K-9 “Kibo” and his handler, Officer Ewing. Officers contained the area, and while doing so, a caller on Maple Street reported a male subject had jumped his fence. Officer Ewing and Kibo began tracking, locating the suspect hiding in blackberry bushes behind a house in the 1000 block of Maple Street.

The suspect, a 26-year-old Neilton man, was taken into custody without further incident. He was not contacted by K-9 Kibo. The mere presence of a police dog often discourages suspects from resisting arrest or assaulting officers.

Upon returning to his patrol car, Officer Martinez noticed the passenger door of the truck was now open when it had been closed before. He learned from Deputy Byron of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office that there was probable cause for the arrest of the suspect’s girlfriend for vehicle theft. The suspect admitted his girlfriend had been with him.

In looking in the suspect’s truck, Officer Martinez observed items of drug paraphernalia and a very distinct-looking backpack that matched that of one being worn in surveillance video of another vehicle prowl incident the Hoquiam Police Department officers had investigated. Officer Martinez impounded the truck to apply for a search warrant.

The truck was towed back to the Hoquiam Police Department and secured. Officer Martinez then returned to the area to attempt to locate the female. He observed a silver SUV driving away from the area and saw it run two stop signs. He stopped the vehicle and found the female suspect in the passenger seat.

Officer Martinez had obtained her cell phone number from Deputy Byron. He called the number and watched as she denied the call. The female, a 39-year-old Elma woman, was positively identified and taken into custody. She was turned over to the sheriff’s office.

“This was great teamwork from the three agencies to get two wanted subjects into custody with no injuries to anyone,” said Hoquiam Lt. Salstrom. “Once the search warrant is served on the truck, we believe it may lead to additional charges and hope to recover stolen property.”