Crime & Safety
Dog Injured During Arrest Of Teen Who Crashed A Stolen Car After Chase From Wisconsin
K9 Dax is being treated by a veterinarian for injuries suffered while apprehending a 16-year-old Zion boy as he hid in the woods.
WAUKEGAN, IL — One of the Lake County Sheriff's Office's dogs was injured during the arrest of a teen hiding in the woods after leading police on a high-speed chase across state lines, authorities said.
"It’s not exactly clear how K9 Dax was injured," Deputy Chief Chris Covelli told Patch, "but the injury occurred during the apprehension of the suspect."
The pursuit began just before midnight on Sunday in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where police spotted a 16-year-old Zion boy behind the wheel of a stolen car, according to the sheriff's office.
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After striking a Pleasant Prairie Police Department squad car, the teen crashed the stolen car over the state line in the 41000 block of North Green Bay Road in unincorporated Zion.
The teen then made a break for it on foot and ran from the crash site into a nearby wooded area.
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Police called in K9 Dax, one of the sheriff's office's seven dogs, and his handler, Deputy John Forlenza, to track down the teen suspected to be lurking in the woods.
Despite Forlenza's verbal warnings and intimidating barks from Dax, the teen declined to surrender voluntarily, according to the sheriff's office.
The dog was soon able to track down the Zion teen, found him hiding in the woods and bit him before he surrendered about 30 minutes after the crash.
Dax suffered an injury at some point during the capture, a sheriff's office spokesperson said.
The 16-year-old was was placed into custody and taken to am area hospital for treatment for the bite. He is likely to face charges in both Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the sheriff's office.
Dax remained in the care of a veterinarian as of Tuesday morning, according to the sheriff's office. The dog's injury prevents him from bearing any weight on his hind legs.
Sheriff John Idleburg said in a statement that his entire office is wishing Dax a speedy recovery.
“We are extremely hopeful Dax’s injury is not serious," Idleburg said. "Please send positive thoughts to Dax and Deputy Forlenza, as the extent of the injury is determined. ”
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