El Cerrito's Police Dog, King, Makes His First "Arrest"

Making his first "arrest," El Cerrito's , was responsible for a quick end to a dramatic chase when a fleeing suspect in a stolen car led authorities  early Saturday morning, police said.

The two-mile car chase, which began about 12:25 a.m., ended shortly afterward when the stolen vehicle crashed near San Pablo and Solano avenues. The suspect fled the car and disappeared into the neighborhood, police said.

 established a square-block cordon around the area, and turned the search over to King and his handler, officer Aaron Leone.

The driver, later identified as burglary suspect Shane Michael Bugnatto, 22, "jumped out and ran and jumped over a fence," Leone said.

King was taken to the suspect's car, a Honda reported stolen in Concord, to get the scent. The 2-year-old German shepherd picked up the trail on the other side of the fence where the driver had jumped over it, Leone said.

"He tracked me to the next yard south and a pick-up truck parked next to a two-unit house," Leone said. "I looked under the truck and saw the suspect."

Bugnatto was ordered to come out and surrender but refused, Leone said.

"I sent King to apprehend him," Leone said.

"The suspect kicked and punched him," he said.

"The suspect sustained several dog bites," Leone added.

With King holding onto Bugnatto, police quickly handcuffed him, Leone said.

It was a first for El Cerrito's first police dog, who appears on the official roster as "K-9 Officer King," a German native who five months ago.

"This is the first time he's actually apprehended somebody," Leone said.

Without King, police could have faced a considerable delay and possible escape. They would have had to request a dog from another law enforcement agency, Leone said. If no dog was available, as is sometimes the case, the search would have required an intensive human search of the area, Leone said.

King wasn't injured in the encounter. Bugnatto was treated at a local hospital for the dog bites and leg injuries from the crash, then transferred to the county jail in Martinez on Saturday morning, Leone said.

The incident had begun about 12:25 a.m. when police tried to stop a Honda near Bayview Avenue and South 56th Street, according to El Cerrito police Sgt. Maples.

The car fled, and speeds reached 60 to 70 mph in a chase down San Pablo Avenue.

Bugnatto continued into Albany, but his car was disabled by two flat tires caused when he ran into the median near San Pablo and Solano avenues, Maples said. He fled into the block bounded by San Pablo, Solano, Kains and Marin avenues.

Maples described Bugnatto as "a local—San Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito. He has an extensive criminal history."

In addition to driving the stolen car, Bugnatto had an outstanding warrant for burglary in Santa Rosa and had methamphetamine with him, Maples said.

For his part, King didn't flinch in the face of danger, Leone said.

"He was excited to do his job," Leone said.

contributed to this report.