An auto burglary suspect who police found sitting in a ditch along Bloomingdale Road — allegedly refusing to follow police commands and appearing to have a handgun — was apprehended Thursday night when a K9 latched onto his leg.
The incident began at 8:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of Bloomingdale Road, where a resident reported spotting a man inside the passenger side of his truck. The victim told the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office that he approached the man and told him to get out, at which point the suspect ran towards the road and sat in a ditch.
The SCSO says the first officer on scene located the suspect, later identified as Clayton Bear, 49, of Wilma Street in Kingsport. He was allegedly still inside the ditch and appeared to have a handgun in his lap, prompting the officer to radio for backup.
Police say Bear was ordered to put his hands up several times but he refused to do so. He was warned that if he failed to do so a K9 would be released, but reportedly continued to be uncooperative.
A trained SCSO K9 was then deployed and latched onto Bear's upper leg. Officers then approached and took him into custody, finding several knives in his possession. Police say one of the weapons had a 6 to 8 inch blade and was shaped like a handgun.
Bear was taken to a local hospital and then released for transport to the Sullivan County jail in Blountville. He's charged with resisting arrest, motor vehicle burglary, possession of a prohibited weapon and public intoxication.