Paradise police K9 helps bring suspected DUI driver into custody early Friday morning

PARADISE, Calif. — A 41-year-old man from Paradise was arrested early Friday morning for suspicion of driving under the influence of narcotics.

Just before 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning, May 18, the Paradise Police Department (PPD) says Officer T. Tatom was patrolling Skyway near Neel Road and saw a silver Chevy Tracker driving in the opposite lane towards him at high speeds. When Tatom began turning around, police say the Chevy sped off and out of sight.

Shortly after, PPD says Tatom and fellow officers found the Chevy abandoned and parked on Black Olive Drive, just east of Skyway. Officers then searched the surrounding area and Tatom deployed K9 "Phoenix." Police say Phoenix picked up the driver's scent at the abandoned Chevy and led officers to a nearby drainage culvert.

In the culvert, officers reportedly found the driver, identified as Keenan Stauss, 41, of Paradise, stuck while trying to hide from officers. Police say officers had to free Stauss from the culvert before bringing him into custody.

While detained, police say Stauss displayed obvious signs and symptoms of being under the influence of narcotics. After being put through a series of sobriety tests, police say Stauss was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and was released to a local area hospital for treatment of a pre-existing medical condition.

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