Manatee K9 Nabs Suspect Hiding in Water

When a man bailed out his vehicle after the Bradenton Beach Police Department stopped him Wednesday night, chances are he didn’t know K9 Boss was on the job in Manatee County.

Manatee deputies were called in by the police department for an assist just after midnight and established a perimeter in the area where the suspect, who was wanted for violation of a domestic violence injunction, was last seen. Deputy Drymon and Boss tracked the suspect into a RV park off Cortez Road, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. The aviation unit also responded to the scene and was able to spot the man hiding in water.

The aviation unit’s spotter, Deputy Sanders, saw the water moving near the last location the suspect was seen and helped guide Drymon and Boss to the location.

At that point, Boss began indicating the suspect was near when Bradenton Beach Police Officer Hill happened to see the man’s face sticking out of the water. Only a small portion of his face and nose were above the surface, the sheriff’s office noted.

Drymon ordered the man out of the water, but he “refused to comply,” the email said.

Boss and Drymon entered the water and Boss was able to apprehend the suspect, who was treated at a nearby hospital for his injuries.

Douglas Bloomer, 48, now faces a host of charges including violation of a domestic violence injunction, domestic battery and obstruction.

Bloomer was being held in the Manatee County Jail Thursday morning.

Booking photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office