Mishawaka police dog makes first collar

A new Mishawaka police dog tracked down his first subject Saturday night, police said.

According to a press release from the Mishawaka police department, an off-duty officer saw a silver Chevy driving hazardously on Indiana 933 near Cleveland around 11 p.m. and turned on his traffic lights to make a traffic stop. The Chevy driver sped off, ultimately crashing into a snow bank, spinning around and hitting another vehicle at Angela and Indiana 933.

The driver then got out of the car and started running east on Pokagon. Police officers last saw him at 11:11 darting between houses.

Cpl. Anthony Stachowiak and his K9 partner Max tracked the suspect to the 600 block of Peashway and took him into custody at 11:33.

The suspect was charged with leaving the scene of a minor injury crash, resisting law enforcement and driving while suspended.

Max's first day on active duty was Jan. 1, 2011.