Dallas police dog helps capture man after chase in Love Field area

11:54 AM CDT on Friday, March 27, 2009

BY DAN X. McGRAW / The Dallas Morning News
dmcgraw@dallasnews.com

A man is undergoing surgery for a dog bite this morning after leading authorities on a brief chase through the medical district near Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, the Dallas County sheriff's office said.

A Dallas County deputy attempted a traffic stop after midnight early this morning, but Ruben Gardea did not stop his truck, said sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Leach. The 22-year-old drove with his lights off as he led police on a two-minute chase.

His truck stalled as tried to drive over a median. The officer who was pursuing Gardea crashed into a utility pole near the intersection of Market Center and Harry Hines boulevards, Leach said.

Gardea then climbed out of his truck and ran.

The Dallas sheriff's and Dallas police K-9 units searched for Gardea and found him a short time later in a nearby creek bed, Leach said. The dog bit Gardea several times in the upper bicep and lower arm until police separated the two, she said. Gardea was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery.

Gardea has been charged with evading arrest and aggravated assault on a public servant.

The deputy, whose name was not released by authorities, was treated and released at Parkland Memorial Hospital.