K9 Stabbed, Trooper Injured After Chase On NJ Turnpike

Mount Lauren, NJ – A New Jersey state trooper was injured and a state police K9 was stabbed after a chase on the New Jersey Turnpike on Monday.

The incident began at about 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 16 when New Jersey State Police (NJSP) troopers responded to a call about a shirtless man with a knife standing outside his car on Interstate 295 near the Bellmawr Borough exit, WABC reported.

NJSP Trooper Charles Marchan said that when troopers arrived on the scene, the man jumped back in his vehicle and fled, the Daily Voice reported.

Trooper Marchan said troopers activated lights and sirens and attempted to stop the suspect, but he evaded them and fled northbound.

He said the suspect vehicle got off the interstate and then got on the New Jersey Turnpike at Interchange 4, the Daily Voice reported.

Troopers continued to pursue the suspect until his vehicle became disabled near mile marker 31.7, according to Trooper Marchan.

The suspect refused to get out of his vehicle when troopers commanded him to do so, the Daily Voice reported.

So they sent in NJSP K9 Creed to apprehend the suspect.

“Troopers ordered the driver to exit the vehicle, but he refused, so a State Police K-9 was utilized to assist troopers entering the vehicle to apprehend the suspect,” the state police said in a statement. “As they attempted to gain control of the suspect, he stabbed the K9 with a knife.”

“At this time, the troopers removed the injured K-9 from the vehicle and the suspect exited the vehicle,” the statement read.

NJSP said that as troopers took the suspect into custody, the suspect struck one of them with a flashlight, the Daily Voice reported.

K9 Creed was transported to a veterinary hospital and treated.

He was listed in stable condition, the Daily Voice reported.

Police dog stabbed, trooper injured after N.J. chase
🙏Prayers for K9 Creed in the New Jersey State police. Waiting for updates.
Trooper is going to be OK.https://t.co/QQgmnibuyx#BackTheBlue #ThinBlueLine #dog #K9 #police #military #WaronDrugs #LivePD pic.twitter.com/zP8JI4k9jd

— Tactical Dog (@TacticalDogLive) August 17, 2021

The trooper who was hit with the flashlight sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

The state police have not released the name of the trooper who was hurt, WABC reported.

Nor have they released the identity of the suspect who stabbed K9 Creed and injured the trooper.