Police dog finds suspect hiding in recycling bin

A man hiding in a recycling bin was taken into custody early Tuesday morning with the help of a Spokane County Sheriff’s dog.

Deputies responded at about 2 a.m. to a Washington State Patrol trooper who was pursuing a red Honda with no license plates near Mission Avenue and University Road, deputies wrote in a news release. They tracked the Honda to the area of Valley Mission Park, 11123 E. Mission Ave., in Spokane Valley.

The driver, 33-year-old Jason C. Kline, fled from the vehicle and ran through nearby residential yards. Deputy Tyler Kullman and his dog partner K-9 Khan arrived to help track him.

Deputies said Khan immediately picked up a scent and located a black cell phone on the ground in the back yard of a home in the 1700 block of North Glenn Court.

As they continued their search, Khan began to sniff his way toward a blue recycling bin in the 11000 block of East Augusta Avenue, where he began barking, deputies said. Several announcements for the suspect to show his hands were made without a response.

After another announcement was made, the deputies saw the lid rise about 2 inches and fall closed again. The lid rose again, allowing deputies to see the top of Kline’s head, but he refused to follow commands to show both of his hands, deputies said.

Khan was deployed and tipped over the bin. Kline was detained and given medical aid before being transported to the Spokane County Jail, where he was booked on recommended charges of, among others, eluding police, trafficking in stolen property, possession, and driving with a suspended license.