K9 Ikon

On March 24, 2003, at approximately 10:30 pm, Officer Chip Higinbotham and his partner K-9 Ikon were involved in the pursuit of a wanted felon in the Silver Lake area.

The suspect, a 33-year-old Everett man, was stopped for a traffic violation. Officers discovered that the suspect was wanted for an outstanding felony warrant for a Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, a narcotics violation. The suspect fled from officers on foot. A foot pursuit began from the 900 block of Peters Place. Ikon and Officer Higinbotham tracked the suspect on a circuitous route through the Silver Lake Neighborhood to Interstate 5 near 112th Street, closing the distance on the suspect. Officer Higinbotham released Ikon to track through some thick underbrush. The suspect fled across Interstate 5, with Ikon tracking him. Ikon caught up to and contacted the suspect. A witness observed the suspect fighting with Ikon on I-5. A passing motorist struck the K-9, who was gravely injured, and the suspect escaped on foot. The motorist did not stop after the accident. Officers transported Ikon to a veterinary clinic where he died from his injuries at around midnight.

On the morning of March 25th officers continued the search for the suspect and located him at a residence in the 900 block of Peters Place. The suspect had K-9 contact injuries on him. The suspect was booked into the County Jail for the Arrest Warrant.

Ikon served the Everett Police Department for 5 years and was a deeply loved member of the Everett Police department. He was an 8-year-old German Shepherd police dog that had been obtained by the department through the Vancouver Police Department in Vancouver Canada. Ikon, like all Everett Police K-9s, served with great distinction and courage throughout his career with the department. Ikon was an integral part of Officer Higinbotham’s family throughout his career, living at the home of the officer during off duty hours. Officer Higinbotham and Ikon were committed to community involvement providing demonstrations for a large number of community groups over his career. Ikon will be greatly missed by our community.