Pursuit Suspect Refuses Commands Leading To Struggle Injuring A Police K9 and Two Officers
At approximately 2:37 AM, Sunday, October 15, Crown Point Police Officer Osiecki attempted to initiate a traffic stop near 93rd Avenue and Main Street, according to Crown Point Police.
Officer Osiecki observed a 2006 black Maserati driving 86 mph in a posted 45 mph zone in the 2100 block of North Main Street. Officer Osiecki advised dispatch he would be making a traffic stop on the vehicle and requested an additional unit to assist. Officer Osiecki activated his emergency lights at the intersection of 93rd Avenue and Main Street. The driver then continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed and did not immediately pull over. Instead, the driver drove almost a mile before eventually stopping in the 8600 block of Taft Street.
Once stopped, Officer Osiecki ordered the driver over his loudspeaker to roll down the car windows. The driver complied and rolled the windows down just enough to show his hands. After additional commands, the driver turned off his vehicle and placed the key fob on the car, but the driver refused to open the door and exit the vehicle.
Officers warned the driver if he did not exit the car, a police K-9 would be released. The driver remained in the vehicle and refused to exit. Two Crown Point officers attempted to enter the passenger side of the vehicle, but it was locked. Crown Point police deployed a department-issued baton to break the passenger window glass to enter the vehicle and unlock the doors.
Crown Point Police Cpl. Dave Wilkins then deployed K-9 Jack into the vehicle. The male driver gouged K-9 Jack’s eyes and grabbed K-9 Jack around the throat with both of his hands, leaving the canine briefly incapacitated and causing his eyes to roll to the back of his head.
Cpl. Wilkins ordered the driver to release the dog. When the suspect refused, Cpl. Wilkins began to struggle with the driver in an attempt to free the canine from the suspect’s grip. A Crown Point officer then utilized a department-issued taser to prevent further injury to the canine. The suspect then released his grip from the dog’s throat. Officers then had to forcibly remove the suspect from the vehicle as he continued to resist arrest until he was handcuffed.
The suspect, a 32-year-old male from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was transported to Franciscan Health Crown Point where he was treated for minor injuries and released. He was then taken to the Lake County Jail for processing. He has since posted a $2,500 bail and has been released from custody.
Two Crown Point police officers were treated on scene for minor injuries. K-9 Jack is currently in the care of his handler and awaiting further medical review Monday. Crown Point Police were assisted on scene by Indiana State Police and the Merrillville Police Department.
UPDATE – After a thorough exam with his veterinarian, Crown Point Police K-9 Jack has a clean bill of health. He was cleared by the veterinarian today, Monday, Oct. 16, and is currently in the care of his handler. The Crown Point officers treated on scene for minor injuries have been cleared for duty.
The following charges were presented and accepted by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office today, Monday, October 16 against the driver now identified as Tyler Lee Pollard, 32, of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- Battery on public safety official, level 6 felony
- Intimidation, level 6 felony
- Resisting law enforcement, level 6 felony
- Striking, interfering with a law enforcement animal, level 6 felony
- Operating while intoxicated, endangering a person, class A misdemeanor
- Resisting law enforcement, class A misdemeanor
- Disorderly conduct, class B misdemeanor
- Operating while intoxicated, class C misdemeanor
- Reckless driving, class C misdemeanor
Crown Point Police also cited Pollard for exceeding the posted speed limit — driving 86 mph in a posted 45 mph zone — and for having an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle.
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