Press Release: K9 Mak's Role Praised in High-Speed Chase Arrest

Photo Courtesy of JPD.

In a press release issued after Tuesday’s arrest, Jasper Police Chief Garrett Foster credited K9 Mak with helping locate the suspect who fled into the woods following a high-speed chase — a case we first reported earlier this morning.

Jasper Police Department’s K9 Mak is being hailed a hero after helping track down a Louisiana man who led officers on a dangerous high-speed pursuit across multiple counties early Tuesday morning, August 5.

The chase began in Lumberton when the suspect—identified as Julius T. Nix, 39—reportedly threw a large quantity of narcotics from his vehicle and fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Law enforcement agencies from across the region, including the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Silsbee Police Department, and Kirbyville Police Department, joined the pursuit. Officers intercepted Nix in Buna, but the chase didn’t end there.

After failing to make a turn at FM 363 in Kirbyville, Nix’s vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer. He then fled on foot into nearby woods, continuing to discard suspected narcotics as he ran.

That’s when K9 Mak was deployed.

The skilled police dog quickly picked up Nix’s trail and located him hiding off County Road 451 near Bon Ami. Nix was taken into custody without further incident and later transported by Lumberton PD back to Hardin County, where he faces multiple felony charges.

39-year-old Julius T. Nix of Louisiana. Image courtesy of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

The truck driver involved in the crash sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

“This is exactly why we invest in our K9 program,” said a Jasper PD official. “K9 Mak once again proved to be an invaluable asset to public safety.”