It took three officers and a police dog to subdue a man who led Ceres police on a car chase and nearly ran head-on into a pursuing sergeant before crashing into a pole early Wednesday. The man fled on foot and kept running even after the police dog sank its teeth into his buttock, police said.
The incident started when an officer spotted the man driving recklessly on Whitmore Avenue about 1:22 a.m., said Ceres police spokeswoman Carissa Higginbotham. The officer tried to pull over the vehicle near Rose Avenue but the driver, later identified as Adam Loux, 31, continued to Mitchell Road, where he turned north and then headed west on Hatch Road.
During the pursuit, Higginbotham said, Loux weaved into oncoming traffic and nearly hit a pursuing sergeant head-on. The sergeant had to pull onto a side street to avoid the collision, and Loux continued driving after turning off his headlights, Higginbotham said.
He eventually crashed at Hatch and Richland Avenue.
Higginbotham said Loux was traveling west in the eastbound lanes when he veered north and hit a sign in the center median. Loux’s car continued across the westbound lanes, struck a tree and then a light pole near an IHOP restaurant.
With the car disabled, the man climbed through the window and began to run, Higginbotham said.
A pursuing canine officer ordered the man to stop, but he kept running. The officer released his dog, Duke.
Duke caught up with the man and latched onto his buttock, but Loux kept running. The dog kept its grip. At one point, Loux fell, got up and tried to kick the dog behind him, Higginbotham said.
“(Loux) was observed by responding officers running, dragging Duke along, who was ‘attached’ to his buttocks,” she said.
He ran across the parking lot, where officers coming from the north cut him off.
It took three officers to subdue Loux, Higginbotham said.
After being medically cleared at a hospital, Loux was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, evading, reckless driving, resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine. Higginbotham said officers suspect Loux was under the influence but are awaiting lab results.
An officer suffered minor injuries to his hand during the scuffle with Loux.
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