There are plenty of ways a police pursuit can go wrong. Losing your tires is usually a pretty good sign that your escape plan has fallen apart.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, one Florida suspect allegedly discovered that the hard way after deputies spotted a stolen Nissan Altima. Even driving on shredded tires wasn’t enough to shake law enforcement.
The pursuit became even more unusual when the suspect abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The sheriff’s office joked that he probably wished he had been wearing a belt as he attempted to hold up his shorts while fleeing.
With Air One tracking from above and K-9 Koen searching from the ground, the escape didn’t last long. By the end of it all, the suspect was in handcuffs after being found hiding underneath a vehicle.
Stolen Nissan Led Deputies on a Pursuit Until the Tires Fell Off
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According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Christmas spotted a stolen Nissan Altima on August 1 at 5:25 pm near Northeast Jacksonville Road and Northeast 35th Street. After the agency’s Air One helicopter and additional deputies arrived in the area, Sgt. Christmas attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
Instead of pulling over, authorities say the driver, identified as Chad Cordrey, fled. While deputies backed off the ground pursuit, Air One continued tracking the vehicle from above and directed responding units to its location.
Deputy Sampedro positioned stop sticks along Northeast Highway 314, and investigators say Cordrey drove directly over them. Even after the tires were punctured, he allegedly continued driving until they literally came off the vehicle.
Air One and K-9 Koen Ended the Escape Attempt
Once the disabled Nissan finally stopped, deputies say Cordrey jumped out and tried to flee on foot. The sheriff’s office joked that this was the moment he probably wished he had been wearing a belt, as he was reportedly forced to hold up his shorts while running through a nearby yard.
Helpful residents pointed K-9 Cpl. DeMarco and K-9 Koen toward the direction the suspect had gone. The police dog quickly tracked Cordrey to a hiding spot underneath a parked vehicle.
According to the sheriff’s office, Koen “took a literal bite out of crime” by apprehending the suspect. Investigators say Cordrey then made matters worse by grabbing the K-9’s snout and refusing commands before deputies pulled him out from underneath the vehicle and placed him into custody.
Suspect Faces Multiple Charges Following Arrest
Cordrey was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with grand theft, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and resisting arrest. The sheriff’s office also noted that he is a registered sex offender.
The unusual pursuit quickly caught the attention of commenters, many of whom praised Air One, the deputies, and especially K-9 Koen. Replies like “That’s the goodest boy,” “Good job doggy… you deserve a treat,” and “You can’t outrun a K-9 officer or a helicopter” celebrated the police dog’s role in the arrest.
Others couldn’t help but laugh at the sheriff’s office’s storytelling, particularly the jokes about the suspect’s missing belt and the K-9 “taking a literal bite out of crime.” Several commenters also argued that grabbing Koen’s snout should have resulted in an additional charge, while many simply summed up the incident with, “FAFO. Great job MCSO!”