Two brave K9s from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office are being celebrated for their sharp tracking skills after successfully finding six suspects across two separate incidents. Dubbed the department’s “hide and seek champions,” K9 Igo and K9 Mac showed just how powerful trained police dogs can be when it comes to keeping communities safe.
K9s Lead the Charge in South Thurston County Incident
The first incident began with a tense encounter in South Thurston County. According to the sheriff’s office, six people were involved in tagging a fence and reportedly pulled handguns on deputies before running off into nearby woods.
That’s when K9 Igo and K9 Mac were brought in to help. K9 Igo, with his handler Deputy Bagby, found two guns hidden under a trailer. But the real show of skill came next—he tracked down and found two suspects hiding in the woods.
Meanwhile, three other individuals tried to escape by running. One gave up after meeting another deputy near the perimeter. The remaining two ran, but they weren’t alone—a drone was already following their movements from above.
K9 Mac, guided by Deputy Pearsall, quickly got on the trail and located one of the suspects trying to crawl away to avoid detection.
Second Incident Leads to Another Win for K9 Mac
Later that same night, deputies in nearby Mason County requested help from Thurston County during a pursuit that crossed into Grays Harbor County. After the suspect’s vehicle crashed, several people fled on foot.
Once again, K9 Mac was called in—and didn’t disappoint. He tracked two suspects hiding in the woods near the crash site.
But perhaps the most memorable part of the night came when the third suspect, still hiding, called 911 on his own. His reason? He was terrified of being found—and possibly bitten—by K9 Mac.
Meet the K9 Officers Behind the Work
K9 Mac joined the department in August 2024, partnered with Deputy Pearsall. Despite being relatively new, Mac has already proven his talent in the field. K9 Igo, who has been with the department since 2022, also continues to demonstrate top-tier tracking skills and teamwork with his partner, Deputy Bagby.
The sheriff’s office shared the dogs’ accomplishments on Thursday night, proudly naming them “hide and seek champions” for their impressive work.
From locating weapons to finding suspects hiding deep in the woods, K9 Igo and K9 Mac have once again shown why police K9 units are an essential part of law enforcement.
