Suspected drug dealer arrested after intense encounter with deputy, K9

A suspected meth dealer who is accused of resisting arrest and harming a K9 is in the Spokane County Jail after an intense encounter with a deputy early Friday morning, the Spokane County Sheriff’s office reported.

Deputy Jeff Thurman pulled over an Audi with Montana plates about 2 a.m. Friday after the driver violated several traffic rules, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The car stopped under the Evergreen Road overpass on westbound Interstate 90.

A passenger in the backseat, Jason A. Campbell, 32, was moving around frantically when Thurman was pulling over the car, and he refused numerous commands to show his hands and to release his grip on a backpack as Thurman approached and arrived at the car, the news release said.

Eventually, Thurman pulled on Campbell’s arm to remove him from the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. During the struggle, Thurman drew his gun and pointed it at the driver, Eric D. Langton, 25, when Langton put his hands down toward the seat, the sheriff’s office said.

Langton complied with Thurman’s orders to keep his hands up, but Campbell elbowed Thurman and was able to dive back into the car and lock the door. When the driver refused Campbell’s demands to drive away, Campbell began opening the backpack. That’s when Thurman broke a car door window. Another deputy arrived and got Langton out of the car, at which point Campbell attempted to get to the driver’s seat. When he continued to disobey commands, Thurman deployed his K9, Laslo. Campbell, punched Laslo and choked him by twisting his collar, the sheriff’s office said.

Laslo bit Campbell’s leg in the encounter. Laslo was not injured. Campbell eventually was brought under control after the arrival of multiple deputies, the sheriff’s office said.

In a search of the car, deputies found an estimated 3-4 ounces of a white, crystalline substance; a brown tar-like substance in plastic baggies; a pistol under the front seat; two pistols in the backpack; and scales, the sheriff’s office said.

Campbell was booked into jail on two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, obstructing a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, third-degree assault and harming a police dog.

Langton, and another passenger, 19-year-old Kassidy D. Williams, were each booked on a charge of intent to deliver.