K9 Bane – Phoenix, Arizona

Died 4/17/18

K9 officer dead, suspect hospitalized

Video – https://www.12news.com/video/news/local/valley/wild-police-chase-and-barricade-ends-with-k9-officer-dead-suspect-hospitalized/75-8099476

A K9 officer is dead and a carjacking suspect is in the hospital after a police pursuit turned into a barricade situation in west Phoenix Tuesday. Police chased a suspect at high speeds on surface streets in Phoenix before he blew out a tire and went into a neighborhood near 29th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Around 3 p.m., medics transported the suspect to a nearby hospital. Phoenix Police Chief Jerri Williams said the suspect’s injuries are not life-threatening and are from the pursuit. Police believe the suspect barricaded himself in an attic of a home in the area after the car chase ended. The suspect refused to come out so police sent the K9 in. Police said the suspect was found on top of the K9 officer. Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, officers spotted a man driving a stolen car near 51st Avenue and Broadway Road and attempted to stop him. The driver fled the area, then carjacked a car near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home. According to police, he was armed. The suspect made his way through Phoenix and ended up stealing another car at gunpoint at the Biltmore Fashion Park near 24th Street and Camelback Road. The suspect exited the garage driving a Lexus SUV. Police began the pursuit. A 12 News photojournalist saw police speaking to a woman who had been carjacked in the area, and a police vehicle appeared to have windows shot out. Shortly after noon, the driver made it to Central Avenue and drove on the light rail tracks to avoid police. Around 12:30 p.m., police were able to strike one of the SUV’s tires with a spike strip near 27th and Glendale avenues. The driver continued to drive and bailed out of the car at a house near 28th Avenue. Police were able to catch and arrest a woman. It is not clear if she was the driver or a passenger. Police have not released any information on her. Police are still searching for the suspect in the neighborhood of Bethany Home Road and 29th Avenue. They believe he is in one of the houses in the area. According to police, the suspect has a history with law enforcement, including prior incidents of felony flight. He also has an active warrant for auto theft and prior arrests.

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.