A Washington State deputy resorted to an unusual but effective tactic while pursuing a group of teenage car theft suspects by threatening to release a K-9 and mimicking dog barking to scare the juveniles into surrendering.

Last month, deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a stolen vehicle near a cemetery on Chambers Creek Way in University Place.

The incident began on the morning of August 18 when deputies, in pursuit of a stolen vehicle, deployed stop sticks to intercept the car.

The stop sticks successfully punctured all four tires of the stolen car, but the suspects continued their escape, prompting deputies to call off the pursuit.

Eventually, the stolen car was found unoccupied and still running along Bridgeport Way.

As captured by the bodycam footage of the incident, the deputies then surrounded the area and began their search for the teenagers involved in the car theft.

In a wooded area, one sharp-eyed deputy spotted the group hiding in a creek bed.

The deputy was led to the area after detecting traces of the teens, such as a hole in a nearby chain-link fence.

In an attempt to coax the suspects out of their hiding spot, the deputy resorted to a rather unconventional approach.

Shouting, “Stop, police! Don’t make us release our K-9!” the deputy bluffed.

Then, to create the illusion that a police dog was present, the deputy proceeded to bark like a police K-9 multiple times.

Remarkably, the tactic worked like a charm.

The four juveniles soon emerged from their hiding place and surrendered to the deputies.

Sergeant Darren Moss Jr. commended the deputies for their creativity, stating in a video posted to the department’s Facebook page: “The kids actually believed there was a dog, and, in the end, they told the deputies, ‘Man, soon as I heard that dog, I gave up.’ So awesome job, and A-plus for creativity in getting the teens to comply.”

The video concludes with the deputies taking the teenagers into custody. As of now, no details about the identities of the suspects or the charges they may face have been provided.