K-9 tracks down fleeing suspects.

Laz

K-9 tracks down fleeing suspects.

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP — Oceana County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Lazarus is getting patted on the head for being a good boy after tracking down a couple bad guys Friday, July 16, around 1:30 a.m. 

Oceana County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to assist Muskegon County authorities with a vehicle chase. The vehicle crashed, and the driver fled the scene on foot, states a post on the Oceana County Sheriff K-9 Facebook page. 

“K-9 Lazarus and his handler (Sgt. Cam Hanson) were first on scene. K-9 Lazarus was deployed to track the suspect. After going through several residential yards and a thick wooded area, the suspect was located hiding behind a residence. He was then arrested.”

Laz with one of the suspects in the background.

The police chase began in northern Muskegon County and ended in southern Oceana County. Sgt. Hanson found the suspect vehicle, which had crashed into the ditch at Clay Road and 38th Avenue, said Lt. Shane Hasty. Laz then tracked the suspects — a 31-year-old Whitehall man, who was the driver, and a 33-year-old Whitehall man — and found them hiding. They were both lodged in the Muskegon County Jail.

“Nice work, Laz, on putting another bad guy in jail,” states the Facebook post. “Thanks again to the community who supports our program and makes these furry ‘tools’ available to us! Congratulations Laz, you are today’s winner of hide-and-seek.”

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