The Shelton Police Department’s newest K-9, Lex, recently helped officers located methamphetamine and stolen items in a suspect’s vehicle.
According to a news release, on Tuesday, July 21, Shelton officers were dispatched to a theft in progress at Sally’s Beauty Supply in the 300 block of East Wallace Kneeland Boulevard. A male suspect had stolen hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise and a store employee’s cell phone. He fled the scene in a green Honda. Shelton Police officers and Mason County Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle near Shelton Springs Road and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect ran from the traffic stop but was captured after a short foot chase.
Officers had reason to believe there were narcotics located inside the suspect’s vehicle and called K-9 Lex to the scene. K-9 Lex, who has been trained for illegal narcotics searches, alerted to narcotics inside the vehicle, which allowed officers to obtain a search warrant.
Officers executed the search warrant and located five small plastic bags containing a white crystal substance, believed to be methamphetamine, and a small digital scale. The bags were marked for individual distribution. The vehicle search also led the discovery of other property believed stolen from businesses outside the area.
The suspect, a 27-year-old Tacoma man, faces felony narcotics and theft charges.
The Shelton Police Department has two K-9s (K-9 Lex and K-9 Tango). Both are certified as patrol and narcotic K-9s through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.