Calif. Police K-9 Apprehends Gun-Wielding Suspect

June 6, 2013

A Lodi police dog helped arrest a man who ran from officers and threatened a resident at his home.

Lodi police used a K9 dog to arrest a man who ran from officers and threatened a resident at his home with a gun Tuesday night.

An officer tried to stop Levi Friedli, 25, of Lodi, for a bicycle offense around 11:30 p.m. near the 600 block of South Stockton Street, Lodi Police Sgt. Eric VerSteeg said. When the officer attempted to make contact, Friedli, who had two warrants for his arrest, allegedly ran, VerSteeg said.

Friedli jumped into a backyard and allegedly started knocking on a window, asking a man inside to let him in, VerSteeg said. When the man refused, Friedli allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to kill the man unless he opened the door, VerSteeg said.

The resident retreated and called police, while Friedli took off and hopped another fence before being subdued by a police dog, VerSteeg said. Officers allegedly later found methamphetamine on Friedli, as well as a pellet gun near the scene, which they believe was used to threaten the resident, VerSteeg said.

Friedli was booked on suspicion of terrorist threats, brandishing a firearm, burglary, drug possession and drug sales. He's being held in San Joaquin County jail without bail.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service