Dog helps police capture auto theft suspect on run

A police dog can change a situation for the better in a hurry.

Case in point: A Costa Mesa K-9 brought down 19-year-old Angel Pena over the weekend after he led police on a pursuit through Newport Beach, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Paul Dondero said.

About 11 p.m. Sunday, Newport Beach police tried to pull Pena over for a suspected DUI near East Balboa Boulevard and A Street, police said. Pena didn’t stop and led police onto the 55 Freeway, where he spun out near the Del Mar Avenue offramp, police said.

When Pena got out of the vehicle — a 1994 green Toyota Corolla reported stolen in Santa Ana earlier that day — he did not listen to officers’ commands and began walking away from them, Newport Beach Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Costa Mesa officers then released their dog, which bit Pena in the upper left arm and brought the situation to an end, police said. Pena received stitches at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, being under the influence of a narcotic and driving under the influence, Sailor said.

— Joseph Serna