K-9 Arlo to retire from Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

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Thurston County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Arlo will retire, authorities from the department announced today, after vets revealed bones in his spine weren’t healing from a shooting that occurred on Jan. 13.

Arlo’s recovery has drawn a large online following, with updates on his continually improving condition drawing thousands of reactions.

“This is heartbreaking; however, we are still thankful for the care he has received and hope he is able to live a pain-free and healthy life as a pet with [Arlo’s handler, Deputy Tyler Turpin],” reads a post on the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit Facebook page, posted this afternoon.

Arlo was accidentally shot twice by friendly fire during an altercation with a suspect on Interstate 5. A suspect, after leading police on a car chase, allegedly drew a gun and was fired on by five Thurston County Deputies and one Washington State Patrol trooper. Arlo was hit in his rear left leg and the shoulder. The suspect was also struck by bullets, and hospitalized.

Arlo was taken to Oregon State University’s Veterinary Hospital for a pair of surgeries where vets removed a bullet still lodged near his spine and fused damaged vertebrae with screws and cement.

Since his release from the hospital, he has been steadily on the mend. However, due to the spinal injury not healing properly, he will go into surgery yet again on March 28, according to a department Facebook post.

The man who was shot by the deputies and one trooper, Victor H. Ortiz-Bucio, 25, has been booked in the Thurston County Jail since Jan. 25. He’s being held on $250,000 bail, with a jury trial currently scheduled for May 17.

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  • CourtneyThomas

    Any word on why a month after retiring and Arlo's handler buying him from the Sheriff's office, his handler is no longer employed there?

    Friday, April 16, 2021 Report this