Moses Lake K9 Chief helps catch fleeing suspect

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department K9 helped catch a suspect trying to flee the scene of a traffic stop Friday night.

The suspect, David Coreas, 26, Soap Lake, was stopped at the intersection of South Beech Street and West Third Avenue by Grant County Sheriff’s deputies, according to a MLPD press release. The incident occurred shortly before midnight.

Coreas “was uncooperative with the deputy,” the press release said, and the deputy asked for assistance from MLPD. Coreas tried to flee the scene on foot as other officers were arriving.

Coreas ran as MLPD K9 officer Nick Stewart was getting out of his vehicle. The deputies and officers started chasing Coreas, and “Officer Stewart remotely popped the rear door of his patrol car, releasing K9 Chief.”

Chief proved to be the fittest among the pursuers. “Although the average age of the MLPD officers working last night was about 19 years old, two-year-old Chief blasted past them quickly and locked on to Coreas. K9 warnings were provided to Coreas, but he continued to flee. K9 Chief caught him rather quickly.”

Coreas sustained minor bite wounds and was treated at the scene. He was booked into the Grant County Jail for DUI, first-degree driving with a suspended license and an outstanding Grant County warrant.

— Staff report