Deputy 'Mako' Bites & Nabs Theft Suspect At Graton Casino

ROHNERT PARK, CA – Sonoma County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy "Mako" assisted Friday with a felony arrest at Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park of a vehicle-theft suspect from Napa, after the man reportedly attempted to evade law-enforcement, parking blockades by riding off over a curb and through shrubs on a stolen motorcycle, according to authorities.

Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies were alerted at 5 p.m., via a stolen-vehicle recovery system, to a 2005 BMW motorcycle reported stolen from San Francisco and parked on the second floor of Graton's parking garage, the department said.

The recovery device pinged in a patrol car outfitted with a receiver, and a deputy located the motorcycle and coordinated surveillance coverage with casino security, deputies said. Security crews called deputies at about 5:45 p.m. reporting that a man was getting on the bike and starting to drive away.

To avoid a possibly dangerous pursuit, several deputies used their patrol cars to seal off the garage exits, however, the suspect, later identified as Timothy Miller, 43 of Napa, tried riding around the patrol units, driving over a curb and through a dirt path with shrubs, deputies said.

Miller lost control of the bike, "laid it down" and took off on foot, after which one deputy deployed his 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, Mako, officials said.

"Mako quickly gained ground on Miller and bit his hand, pulling him to the ground where deputies were able to take him into custody without further incident," the department said.

Allegedly found to be carrying "two bags" of cocaine and "four bags" of heroin, Miller gave a false name to deputies, authorities said. His identity, however, was learned after fingerprints were taken at jail, which also revealed he had four arrest warrants from three counties for numerous such charges as vehicle theft, narcotics and weapons violations, according to deputies.

Miller was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, evasion, driving on a suspended license and impersonation of another, and remains in custody on $195,000 bail due to his warrants.

ALSO SEE:

• Suspect Found In Pursuit Ending With Deputy's Fiery House Crash

• Man Delays Plea To Involuntary Manslaughter At Graton Casino

--Images via Sonoma Sheriff