Salvation Army kettle 1 (copy)

A patron donates money on Nov. 22 to The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The iconic tradition of bell ringers and red kettles is the most recognizable fundraising effort for The Salvation Army.

VANCOUVER, Washington (AP) — A man was chased down and caught by deputies in Washington state after allegedly assaulting a Salvation Army bell ringer and fleeing with his donations kettle.

Clark County deputies responded just before 8 p.m. Saturday night to a reported robbery at a grocery store in Vancouver and attempted to stop the suspect as he fled on foot through traffic.

Two deputies chased down the suspect and detained him after a brief struggle, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said. The cash kettle had been discarded by the suspect but was recovered with help from a police dog, Apollo.

The bell ringer suffered minor injury. The suspect was booked into the Clark County jail for robbery, theft, resisting arrest and obstructing law enforcement.

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