Trooper remotely summons dog for backup

WASILLA — Fighting with a suspect and falling off a porch Monday evening, a Valley-based Alaska State Trooper pushed a button to open a door of his patrol car and his partner sprang into action.

That partner was K-9 Blazer, a Belgian Malinois that has been on the force since April 2013 and works with Trooper Daron Cooper.

According to an AST press statement, the incident began at 6:54 p.m. Monday with a call about a fight in progress on Pioneer Peak Drive. The caller said a gun might be involved.

“A responding trooper did not locate any subjects actively fighting, but a man that appeared to have recently been in a fight was located on a porch of a residence,” according to the press release.

The trooper started talking to the man. Then they began fighting.

“Both the trooper and the suspect fell from the porch to the driveway. The trooper, who is a K-9 handler, warned the suspect to stop fighting or he may be bit(ten),” the press release states. “The suspect continued to fight and K-9 Blazer was deployed, with the use of a remote controller, from the patrol car that was parked a short distance away.”

Blazer sprang into action. Between the dog, the dog’s handler and a second trooper who arrived on scene soon after, they were able to take the suspect into custody.

Troopers reported the suspect was evaluated for injuries at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

“The trooper was also treated at Mat-Su Regional and released. The suspect’s name is being withheld until charges are filed against him,” troopers report.

The press release suggests those charges might include resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer and drug possession.