Police officer breaks leg while trying to arrest sex offender on the run

BUCKLEY -- A police officer broke his leg Friday morning while struggling with a sex offender on the run, officers said.

Around 6:15 a.m., police served a warrant to the White River Senior Housing center in the 420 block of Spiketon Road in Buckley, where the suspect's grandmother lived, Police Chief Jim Arsanto said. Officers searched the home, looking for Derek Ferguson, who has outstanding warrants for failing to register as a sex offender in King County.

Police found Ferguson hiding in a closet, Arsanto said, and officers fought him in attempt to put handcuffs on him. Ferguson escaped the officers' grip, police said, and ran out the front door. One of the officers tried to follow him, but realized his leg was broken and had to stay behind.

A K-9 track of Ferguson performed a short time later was unsuccessful.

The officer indeed suffered a broken leg, and another detective suffered minor injuries in the scuffle.

Ferguson is still on the loose. He is wanted for felony escape, and failing to register as a sex offender.