K9 Gusto helps nab vehicle theft suspect

On 12-30-18 Deputies were patrolling the Hoopa area.  At about 1210 AM a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed was observed on Tish Tang Rd. 



Deputies attempted an enforcement stop on the vehicle for speeding and the vehicle failed to yield, while accelerating northbound on Highway 96. A registration check on the vehicle revealed it had been reported stolen out of Trinity County.

Deputies pursued the vehicle which eventually turned down Highway 169.  The vehicle continued down Highway 169 and the suspect(s) abandoned it in a creek off of Upper Cappell Rd.  Deputy Soeth and his K9 partner Gusto arrived on scene a short time later.  Gusto was able to scent track the suspect(s) through the heavy brush and located 25 year old Frank Benson hiding under a large chunk of concrete.

Benson was found to be in possession of ammunition and had an empty pistol holster on his belt.  Benson is a convicted felon and had a warrant for a Post Release Community Supervision violation.  Benson was later booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

Possession of stolen property
Evading a peace officer
Felon in possession of ammunition
Parole warrant