Charging documents: Serial car thief tried to drown police K9

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LAKEWOOD -- A convicted felon on the run from police tried to drown a police dog that chased him, the Pierce County Prosecutor alleges.

Martonio Malone Ramsey, 25, faces charges of attempting to harm a police dog, possessing stolen property and obstructing a law enforcement officer. He is being held in Pierce County Jail.

According to court documents, a Lakewood police officer spotted Ramsey behind the wheel of a red car that accelerated too quickly from a red light on June 26 near the intersection of Bridgeport Way and 112th Street in Lakewood. The police officer attempted to pull over Ramsey, but the suspect took off at speeds of 80 MPH.

After a quick chase, Ramsey allegedly rolled the car he was driving near Gravelly Lake Drive. As he exited the crashed vehicle, police ordered Ramsey to get on the ground, but he didn't listen.

Ramsey ran off, and was later found by a K9 unit in waist-deep water at a fish ladder along side of a creek. He refused to surrender, police said, and grabbed the dog by it's neck and pushed its head underwater in attempt to drown the dog when it came after him, prosecutors allege.

Police entered the water to subdue Ramsey, and were forced to hit Ramsey in the face several times until he stopped struggling, police said.

While Ramsey was being subdued, the K9 officer and another cop nearly drowned, slipping further into the creek, police said. Other officers had to help save them.

After Ramsey's arrest, police discovered the red/maroon Dodge Charger Ramsey was driving prior to the crash was stolen from the Tacoma Dodge dealership. Ramsey has been convicted multiple times for stealing cars.

He is slated to appear in court later this month.