K-9 Takes Down Man Fleeing From Stolen Vehicle Chase

    An Altoona man is facing a variety of charges this week in connection with the theft of a vehicle, a subsequent chase, and eventual apprehension by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office K-9 animal.
    Dennis Imhoff, 36, was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and resisting without violence after deputies made contact with him at his Lake King Road home on Tuesday, July 19.
    Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies came to 18736 Lake King Road on that date during the mid-morning hours to discuss Imhoff's potential involvement in a vehicle burglary that had occurred the day before in the area of Wallace Street in Umatilla. Upon arrival, deputies saw Imhoff cleaning out a white Chevrolet truck. As deputies made contact, Imhoff reportedly entered the driver's side door of the truck and backed out of the property and left the scene. Deputies followed the truck as it traveled onto CR 42. The suspect then turned north on Big Oak Road.
    Deputies broke off the chase and instead turned around and went to SR 19, traveling north to East Altoona Road, where a resident in the area informed the deputy the truck had entered a driveway on the north side of East Altoona Road.
    The vehicle was located behind a residence, with a tarp over it.
    Multiple deputies began to canvas the area for the suspect, and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
    Around 3:30 p.m., a call was received by the sheriff’s office that the suspect was seen in the area of CR 42. Contact was made, with the suspect attempting to flee the area on foot. A K-9 unit was dispatched, and the animal was able to subdue the suspect.
    Imhoff was transported to AdventHealth Waterman hospital to receive medical attention for injuries received from the dog.
    Lake County Sheriff’s reports indicate Imhoff was recently released on probation, and is facing grand theft auto charges from Marion County and Volusia County, and is a suspect in six separate theft cases.