Suspect killed after shooting police K-9

MARYSVILLE, Calif. (KCRA) A man was shot and killed by officers Friday morning after leading them on a chase through Yuba County and shooting a K-9 in the neck, authorities said.

The man was identified as 26-year-old Jonathan Erick Alexander, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department said.

The incident began just before 2:30 a.m. and ended on E and 6th streets after a high-speed chase.

"They started shooting up the vehicle and the guy died," said Paul Beard who witnessed the chase come to an end.

Wheatland police initially pulled over Alexander for DUI after he was seen driving at 90 mph. The Sheriff's Department said Alexander turned off his lights and continued northbound before eventually pulling over.

"Upon contact with the driver, a strong odor of alcohol emitted from the vehicle," Yuba County Sheriff's Department crime analyst Leslie Carbah said. "He did ID himself to the officer but then became uncooperative."

Alexander then took off, authorities said. Officers chased him down and set up spike strips on Highway 65 and Forty Mile Road. The car ran over the first set of spike strips, but it didn't stop the vehicle.

"There were four separate cops chasing him," Beard said.

At that time, our agency, Yuba County, as well as Wheatland PD, CHP and Marysville PD attempted to conduct a felony stop on the driver," Carbah said. "The vehicle was stopped but he would not comply with orders to surrender and exit the vehicle. Multiple opportunities were given for him at that time to surrender."

After Alexander refused to surrender and get out of the car, a sheriff's K-9 was deployed. The Yuba County Sheriff's Department said Alexander then pulled out a gun.

"The guy shot the K-9 in the neck, and now (the dog is) in the hospital," said Tony Tehrani who works at a furniture store at the intersection.

Officers then opened fire on Alexander, the Sheriff's Department said.

"The suspect was hit by return gunfire. He was then removed from the vehicle and emergency CPR was initiated immediately," the Sheriff's Department said. "Our officers on scene continued emergency CPR until emergency medical arrived."

The bullet that hit the K-9 came out the other side of the dog's neck. He was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, where his condition has been stabilized. The K-9 is expected to survive the gunshot wound, the Sheriff's Department said.

http://www.kcra.com/article/yuba-county-official-man-shot-k-9-before-officers-opened-fire/19701168