NAMPA, ID - Authorities with the Nampa Police Department (NPD) have confirmed that a police pursuit of a suspect has led to the death of a K-9, along with his handler, Officer Cody Huss, being injured as a result of the chase.
According to reports, the chase ended in a rollover crash, killing K-9 Riddick. Officer Huss was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained during the pursuit. He has since been released from the hospital. NPD said that the suspect rammed into Officer Huss' vehicle, causing the patrol car to roll several times. K-9 Riddick was ejected from the car and subsequently killed.
NPD said that they received a call about a possible drug deal on Saturday, September 21st. Police tried to stop the vehicle in question, but the driver did not stop and a police pursuit ensued. Police then conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) measure in an attempt to stop the suspect. In a statement, Lt. Brad Childers, the supervisor of the Nampa Police K-9 Unit, said, "As things evolve throughout a pursuit, we don't always get the choice of what that suspect is gonna do."
He said that they often try to keep K-9 units further bach in pursuits, but that it is not necessarily always an option. In this incident, Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick were the ones to perform the PIT measure. Childers said, "What took place, different from a normal PIT maneuver, is the suspect in this incident turned into the officer intentionally ramming this patrol car."
That move by the suspect caused the patrol car to roll several times. Childers said, "When we try to keep the public safe, sometimes we put ourselves in harm's way. So the officer and his K-9 were obviously thrusted, themselves, into harm's way to try to keep the public safe in this situation." According to the Lt., K-9s are not secured in the back of patrol cars so that they can be deployed at any moment.
He explained, "They're free flowing. The idea behind it is that we want to be able to get them out quickly as possible. K-9s are usually very, very stable back there." It takes more then 800 hours of training to get a police dog ready for service, and over that time, the dogs and their handlers build a strong connection.
Childers said, "We spend a crazy amount of time, not only just teaching them things, them teaching us things, but also just growing a strong, strong bond between the officer and the handler. I think the importance of honoring K-9 Riddick is showing the dedication, not only that he gave, but the officer as well. And just being able to show that all his time, effort, and hours spent together was worth something."
As for the suspect, according to reports, after the crash police searched the surrounding areas and fields for four hours before receiving a call from dispatch that he was at a local convenience store. There were two people in the vehicle that crashed into Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick. The 27-year-old male suspect from Caldwell was arrested on a parole agent's warrant, which allows a person on parole to be detained without a traditional warrant.
The driver, a 33-year-old female, was arrested on felony charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, eluding law enforcement, trafficking methamphetamine and possessing controlled substances as well as misdemeanors for possessing psilocybin mushrooms. Both suspects have been booked into the Canyon County Jail.
K-9 Riddick was a three-year-old German Shepard and was trained in apprehension and drug detention. In a Facebook post, NPD wrote, "Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick were assigned to a late shift patrol team, where they were relied upon each shift to help keep our community safe. It is the wish of Officer Huss and the K-9 Unit to hold a public service of remembrance for K-9 Riddick."
According to reports, the chase ended in a rollover crash, killing K-9 Riddick. Officer Huss was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained during the pursuit. He has since been released from the hospital. NPD said that the suspect rammed into Officer Huss' vehicle, causing the patrol car to roll several times. K-9 Riddick was ejected from the car and subsequently killed.
NPD said that they received a call about a possible drug deal on Saturday, September 21st. Police tried to stop the vehicle in question, but the driver did not stop and a police pursuit ensued. Police then conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) measure in an attempt to stop the suspect. In a statement, Lt. Brad Childers, the supervisor of the Nampa Police K-9 Unit, said, "As things evolve throughout a pursuit, we don't always get the choice of what that suspect is gonna do."
He said that they often try to keep K-9 units further bach in pursuits, but that it is not necessarily always an option. In this incident, Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick were the ones to perform the PIT measure. Childers said, "What took place, different from a normal PIT maneuver, is the suspect in this incident turned into the officer intentionally ramming this patrol car."
That move by the suspect caused the patrol car to roll several times. Childers said, "When we try to keep the public safe, sometimes we put ourselves in harm's way. So the officer and his K-9 were obviously thrusted, themselves, into harm's way to try to keep the public safe in this situation." According to the Lt., K-9s are not secured in the back of patrol cars so that they can be deployed at any moment.
He explained, "They're free flowing. The idea behind it is that we want to be able to get them out quickly as possible. K-9s are usually very, very stable back there." It takes more then 800 hours of training to get a police dog ready for service, and over that time, the dogs and their handlers build a strong connection.
Childers said, "We spend a crazy amount of time, not only just teaching them things, them teaching us things, but also just growing a strong, strong bond between the officer and the handler. I think the importance of honoring K-9 Riddick is showing the dedication, not only that he gave, but the officer as well. And just being able to show that all his time, effort, and hours spent together was worth something."
As for the suspect, according to reports, after the crash police searched the surrounding areas and fields for four hours before receiving a call from dispatch that he was at a local convenience store. There were two people in the vehicle that crashed into Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick. The 27-year-old male suspect from Caldwell was arrested on a parole agent's warrant, which allows a person on parole to be detained without a traditional warrant.
The driver, a 33-year-old female, was arrested on felony charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, eluding law enforcement, trafficking methamphetamine and possessing controlled substances as well as misdemeanors for possessing psilocybin mushrooms. Both suspects have been booked into the Canyon County Jail.
K-9 Riddick was a three-year-old German Shepard and was trained in apprehension and drug detention. In a Facebook post, NPD wrote, "Officer Huss and K-9 Riddick were assigned to a late shift patrol team, where they were relied upon each shift to help keep our community safe. It is the wish of Officer Huss and the K-9 Unit to hold a public service of remembrance for K-9 Riddick."
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