K9 Bane Dashes Through the Snow to Locate Fleeing Suspect
Assisting Spokane Valley Deputies, Spokane County Deputy Clay Hilton and his K9 partner Bane located a suspect hiding in a shed in the back yard of a residence in the 7700 block of E. 7th Lane in Spokane Valley after he fled from a stolen vehicle.
On December 29, 2017 at approximately 4:10 a.m., Spokane Valley Deputy Louis Acosta observed a blue Honda Civic on Park near Appleway. Knowing this year and model are well known as targeted vehicles by car thieves in Spokane, he pulled in behind it and attempted to check the vehicle’s license plate which was partially obstructed by snow.
By the time Deputy Acosta figured out the last two obstructed digits and learned the vehicle had in fact been reported stolen, he had lost sight of it in the area of Beverly Drive and S. Center Drive. Knowing the vehicle had to pass his location to exit the neighborhood, he requested additional units to respond to the area.
The unoccupied vehicle was soon located parked in a driveway of a residence in the 1000 block of S. Center Drive with footprints in the fresh snow leading toward a wooded area.
As additional Deputies established a perimeter and gave K9 announcements over their PA system, Deputy Hilton and K9 Bane, assisted by Deputy Wallace began a track to locate the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Erik Hubbord. K9 Bane immediately placed his nose to the ground and began tracking northeast into the woods. He continued the track over a rock ledge and through dense shrubs to a fence line of a residence in the 7700 block of 7th Lane. K9 Bane tracked to a gate of the fence and tried to push through it. Observing a single set of tracks matching the ones they had been following during the track on the other side of the fence and spots of fresh snow knocked off the top rail of the fence, K9 Bane, Deputy Hilton and Deputy Wallace entered the back yard and continued the track.
K9 Bane lead to the door of a shed. Deputy Hilton gave two announcements stating they knew Hubbord was inside and he needed to surrender but there was no response. Deputy Wallace attempted to open the shed door but couldn’t because it was being held shut from the inside. Another K9 announcement went unanswered so Deputy Wallace began to physically pull the door open. As Hubbord continued to resist arrest and pull the door shut, K9 Bane was deployed and quickly made contact with Hubbord. Hubbord was taken into custody soon after.
Hubbord was provided medical attention and advised of his rights. He admitted to running from the Honda and he heard the K9 announcements as he hid in the shed. He said even though he heard the announcements, he didn’t surrender because he was scared and didn’t know what to do.
Hubbord was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.
The Honda was released at the scene to the owner.
