Three officials with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were in the courtroom Friday morning when a La Center man pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the fatal stabbing of police dog Kane.
H. Keegan Graves, 31, was formally charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, and one charge each of harming a police dog, attempting to elude police and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Sheriff Garry Lucas, Sgt. Scott Schanaker and Deputy Brian Ellithorpe represented the department at the arraignment hearing.
“We’re here to show support for Rick (Osborne) and Kane,” Ellithorpe, the office’s K-9 unit trainer, said afterward.
Bail set, but no release
Clark County Superior Court Judge Rich Melnick set bail for Graves at $500,000. However, Graves’ bail on earlier charges was revoked during a court appearance Monday. Bail would need to be reinstated on those charges before Graves could be let out on supervised release. He’s currently being held at the Clark County Jail.
Graves’ trial was scheduled to begin July 18.
David Schultz, Graves’ attorney, declined comment, saying he’s still in the process of gathering information.
Also not talking yet is Deputy Osborne, Kane’s handler. Ellithorpe said he attended the hearing not only as a symbolic gesture but also to keep Osborne updated on the proceedings.
“He’s getting better day by day,” Ellithorpe said.
It’s no surprise Osborne’s wounds remain fresh, still less than a week after he lost Kane. The black Dutch shepherd would have gone to live with Osborne’s family when Kane retired in 2012. Osborne and his family had developed a tight bond with Kane, Elli-thorpe said.
Court records allege:
Shortly after midnight Saturday, Graves and Natasa Cresap, 22, of Yacolt were spotted southbound on Northeast 107th Avenue in a vehicle with what appeared to be switched license plates.
Deputy Glenn Smyth pursued Graves for about three miles with his lights flashing, as Graves drove through yards, on sidewalks and against traffic.
Graves attempted to strike Smyth’s vehicle and later drove at Osborne’s car. He then smashed into a fence in the 8800 block of Northeast 107th Avenue and fled on foot.
Kane found Graves in a nearby mobile home park. The dog, trained to bite and hold onto suspects, suffered multiple stab wounds.
Kane was rushed to St. Francis Animal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Graves and Cresap were taken into custody without further incident. Cresap was arrested on an outstanding Department of Corrections warrant. She was in Clark County Jail on Friday.
Graves had been out on bail on charges from a Jan. 8 arrest. His trial on the earlier charges is scheduled to begin May 25.
Possible penalties
Graves faces up to 10.25 years in prison on each assault charge, which stem from the allegations he attempted to ram the police vehicles with the car.
Graves could receive up to a year if convicted of harming a police dog. A deadly weapon enhancement could add six months, said Camara Banfield, a senior deputy prosecuting attorney, this week.
Since news of Kane’s death spread Saturday, people from all over the country have contacted the sheriff’s office wanting to donate to its K-9 program. One woman emailed The Columbian saying she sent a $5,000 check.
A new dog can cost as much as $10,000, plus thousands of dollars for training and equipment. Ellithorpe said a timeline for replacing Kane has not been discussed.
“We’re in no big hurry because we have other agencies (with police dogs) to help out,” he said.
Mark McLean, a Milwaukie, Ore., artist, has pledged to sculpt and donate a stone bust of the canine. The department is organizing a memorial service for Kane and will announce details once plans are finalized.
