Man evades police; brought down by K9 unit

A man engaged police in a high-speed pursuit through Spokane Valley before being captured with the help of a police K9 unit.

Stephen Murphy, 36, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck towing an unlicensed vehicle near the area of Broadway Avenue and Farr Road. At about 10:40 p.m. Friday, officers clocked Murphy traveling at speeds in excess of 60 mph and damaging city and private property, court documents say.

Officers were able to corner Murphy’s vehicle after deploying spike traps south of 28th Avenue. The suspect began ramming one officer’s vehicle, causing significant damage to the front bumper, a police news release said. Murphytook off on foot near 28th Avenue and state Highway 27 and was caught by police dog Lalso while attempting to hop over a nearby fence.

Officers caught up to Murphy, who grabbed onto one officers vest and “started thrashing back and forth with his wrist” and was “pushing and hitting at K9 Lalso,” court records say.

Murphy later admitted to running because he was worried officers would assume the vehicle was stolen because he “traded some meth to a shady guy for the truck,” documents say. Murphy admitted to having done meth earlier. Murphy had a passenger in the vehicle.

Police are recommending charges of assault, evading police and unlawful imprisonment.

The damage to the police car is estimated to be about $3,000 to $4,000.