Police: South West Idaho Man Faces Charges After Choking Police Dog

Benito BaezaPublished: October 16, 2015

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 11: Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer Jason Ledford patrols with his bomb-sniffing dog Andy at the Oakland Coliseum station August 11, 2005 in Oakland, California. BART remains at a heightened state of alert following the recent London Underground bombings and is preparing to launch a poster campaign in its stations that encourage riders to report suspicious packages and activity. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) — A southwest Idaho man authorities say tried to elude officers and choked a police dog sent to apprehend him is facing a misdemeanor charge of abuse of a police K9.

Twenty-five-year-old Nathan Allen of Meridian was taken into custody at about 8:20 p.m. Thursday.

Police sought Allen on a $50,000 felony warrant for fleeing police and drug paraphernalia. He also faces misdemeanor charges of resisting officers and drug possession.

Allen earlier in the day successfully eluded officers causing an elementary school to go into lockdown.

Officers spotted Allen again that evening but he fled on foot, so officers released Max, a 9-year-old veteran police dog who made the apprehension.

Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea says Max was not injured and remains on duty.