Page 6 of Phoenix

Chapter 2

Case

“I’ve got a 10-80 and I need immediate backup, do you copy?” I slam my foot onto the brake and whip my cruiser to the left; throwing dirt and gravel behind me like a rain of hail.

The taillights of the 2015 Ford veer from side to side, whizzing by parked cars and pedestrians.

“Copy that,” I hear dispatch come through the radio on my shoulder. “What’s your twenty?”

I increase my speed and try to keep up with the runners ahead of me. I want to make the bust, but not at the expense of innocent lives. It’s delicate balance of speed and safety.

Switching to drive with one hand, I squeeze the button on my radio and speak, “I’m heading West on Summergrove Lane. Routine traffic stop, and the driver took off. Two passengers in the vehicle. Driver is male. I wasn’t able to identify if the passenger was male or female.”

“And a description of the vehicle?” dispatch asks.

“Ford Fusion. Newer model. Red. It’s missing a side mirror and the back windshield is cracked. Shit!” I have to slam on my brakes and sharply turn to the right around a parked car to avoid hitting it.

“Ten-four, we’ve got multiple units heading your way for assistance.”

I don't respond, I just focus on following these fucking maniacs to make sure they don’t hurt anyone.

I follow at high speeds, my sirens and lights blazing overhead, and adrenaline takes hold. My K9 partner, Arya, is in the back seat barking and moving around. She’s ready to work.

We make a left turn onto a dirt road and they seem to slow down just a bit.

I speak back into my radio, “We’re on a dirt road on the southside of Summergrove. They look like they are looking for somewhere to bail. They are going to dump the car.”

My suspicions are confirmed when they abruptly whip off into a ditch and both doors fly open. I slam on my brakes and do the same. “They are running. Stand by.”

I jump from the car, my siren still whistling loud into the air. “Get on the ground! Get the fuck on the ground!”

I run around to the back passenger door of my cruiser and pull it open to let Arya out. I hold onto her collar, giving them one last chance to comply before I turn her loose on them. “Get on the ground! Now!”

The driver takes off on foot toward the woods. Mistake.

“Get him, Arya!” I pat her side twice, letting her know it’s time to work. She bolts on his trail like a bat out of hell, barking the whole way.

Every time I have to release her, there are always nerves surging through me. She’s my partner, my best friend, if anything happened to her...I’d kill someone.

“You, you motherfucker,” I rush toward the passenger as he falls while he is trying to run. “Get down! Get down now!”

He complies, rolling over onto his stomach. “I was just trying to get out of the car, man! I wasn’t going to run.”

“Hands behind you! Hands behind you, right now! I’m not fucking around.”

I bend over, pulling both of his hands behind his back and press my knee on the back of his thigh so he can’t move.

Using one hand, I radio out again, “I need a unit, right now. I’ve got the passenger in custody. Driver is on foot, heading east into the woods. I’ve released my dog onto him.” I let go of the button to shout, “Get him, Arya!” I can hear her barking in the distance as I slap cuffs onto the man beneath me. “I can’t see my dog.”

He shouts in pain, but I know I'm doing my job correctly and there shouldn’t be much pain. I can hear dispatch confirming information in my ear, but my main concern becomes my dog.

“On your feet. Get up.” I pull the passenger up. He’s a small guy, maybe one hundred ninety pounds. Younger than me. Probably in his early twenties.

“You’re hurting me! Fuck!” he shouts.

“Come on, we’re gonna run.” I’m finding my dog, and if I have to drag this asshole along with me, so be it.

I grip the back of his arms and race down the path I saw Arya take.

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