SUSPECTS in California, the United States, stopped in the middle of a police chase to drop two cardboard boxes full of cash totalling almost US$1 million on the side of a road before they were apprehended by a police officer and their K9 partner named Beny.

The incident took place May 1 when a police officer observed three sport utility vehicles that appeared to be traveling together northbound on Interstate 5 in Merced County, California, and saw them commit traffic violations before attempting to stop one of them.

But when the vehicle he attempted to pull over failed to yield and flee the scene, the police began the pursuit.

Once the officer began chasing the suspect driving a 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, however, one of the other SUVs, a black Ford Expedition, attempted to block the officer’s pursuit by straddling the lanes in order to help their accomplice get away.

The officer was able to maneuver around the Ford Expedition, which then turned around and fled the scene in the opposite direction, and begin pursuing the Chevrolet Suburban again only to see something strange as he approached the car.

“The driver of the Chevrolet Suburban dropped two cardboard boxes off before returning to the vehicle and continuing to flee,” said the California Highway Patrol (CHP) of Merced County in a statement.

The officer’s dog Beny was able to alert the authorities to the odor of narcotics on the currency and it was later discovered the suspects were traveling to northern California to purchase marijuana.

(SD-Agencies)