Lemoore police officers get big help from canine unit in arrest of suspect

Colin Sepsey
Colin Sepsey

Lemoore’s canine unit helped apprehend a Lemoore driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and drugs on Wednesday, December 31 at about 1:42 a.m. A Lemoore police officer saw a gray-Dodge Challenger moving at a high rate of speed on West Hanford Armona Road and accelerated so quickly that the rear of the car was losing traction and fishtailing.

The officer estimated the vehicle's speed at 55 mph in a posted 35-mph zone. The officer attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield, forcing police officers to continue the chase.

The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Colin Sepsey of Lemoore, was driving westbound on Hanford Armona Rd., reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. He slowed to enter a residential area while continuing to evade the officer.

Sepsey drove across the front yard of a residence on Persimmon Street after failing to make a turn, causing minor damage to the lawn and shearing off the left front wheel of the Challenger when it hit the curb.

The pursuit ended about one block away when Sepsey drove across the front yard of a residence on Butternut Street and collided with a car parked in the driveway. 

Additional Lemoore police officers, including a canine unit, arrived on the scene to assist with the arrest. The officers gave Sepsey repeated commands to show his hands but he refused. At one point the officers saw Sepsey reaching for something in the area of the center console. The canine’s officer handler gave repeated commands that Sepsey show both of his hands or he would be bitten by the canine. Sepsey refused to comply.

Sepsey then began to exit the vehicle but would not show his right hand, instead reaching towards his waistband area. The canine officer then saw a black object in Sepsey’s right hand. Believing Sepsey to be armed with a weapon, the officer released his canine partner - Ares. Ares attempted to bite Sepsey in the stomach, which caused him to drop the object in his hand. The officers saw that the object was a cell phone and ordered Ares to release Sepsey, allowing the officers to arrest Sepsey.

Officers found drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and concentrated cannabis on Sepsey. Officers also smelled a strong odor of alcohol during his arrest and, after conducting a DUI investigation, arrested him on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Sepsey was treated at the hospital for minor injuries resulting from the arrest. He was then booked into the Kings County Jail for felony evading, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. His bail was set at $45,000.

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