Washington Police Officer Named Merica Hops in Back of Resident’s Pickup Truck to Catch up to Suspect on a Bicycle
A Washington police officer recently received a nice assist from a local resident in a pickup truck. When the suspect he was seeking to contact took off on a bicycle, the citizen helped him make the arrest.
In bodycam video taken on Jan. 31, Lynnwood Police Officer John Merica is seen leaping from his cruiser and giving chase on foot after a suspect with more than $30,000 in outstanding warrants. (Yes, that’s his real last name, and it’s awesome.)
The suspect, who was on a bicycle, was able to quickly put some distance between himself and Officer Merica. As the officer ran down the street, never giving up the chase, a local resident in a blue Ford pickup truck pulled over to the side of the road in front of him, beckoning Officer Merica to jump aboard.
Officer Merica then climbed aboard the Ford truck’s tailgate so he could keep an eye on the suspect. He quickly caught up and hopped off at the Lynnwood Hygiene Center. After spotting the suspect, he ordered him to get on the ground and show him his hands.
As the Lynnwood Police Department wrote on Facebook, along with a video of the unique arrest, “The suspect was taken into custody with more than $30,000 in active Lynnwood warrants and, as you may have guessed, an additional charge. This is why we love our community.”
The Lynnwood Times added in a Facebook post of their own, “Lynnwood Police Chief Cole Langdon swore in Officer Merica shortly after graduating from Washington State Criminal Justice Training in Arlington on July 29, 2025. In Lynnwood, if you do the crime, LPD will find you, even with the help of residents.”
The back of a citizen’s pickup truck, an Uber van, whatever it takes
Officer John Merica’s story is similar to that of another recent arrest caught on bodycam video in Pinellas County, Florida. In that case, a Pinellas County Deputy approached a vehicle that he had pulled over to speak with the driver.
After much back-and-forth, the suspects began acting suspiciously. Then one of them took off on foot.
The suspect was able to get a pretty good lead on the Deputy. That is, until a Toyota Sienna van pulled up with its side door open, with the rideshare driver shouting, “Get in!”
Much like with the chase in Washington, it didn’t take long for the officer catch up to and arrest the suspect. With a little help from a friendly law-abiding citizen, of course.
