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A Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper who was shot nine times during a shift was able to return to work earlier this week, nearly a year after he was hospitalized.

WSP celebrated the return with a post on social media.

Welcome back, Trooper Seaburg!

— WA State Patrol (@wastatepatrol)

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According to court documents obtained by , WSP Trooper Raymond Seaburg tried to stop a DUI suspect just after 11 p.m. on Feb. 16 in Kent. The vehicle in question, a 2001 black Ford F350 truck, was speeding on a highway when Seaburg first spotted it. He tailed the truck and witnessed an accident when the truck crashed into another car once the driver got off the highway.

Two suspects were inside the truck, Danielle Falcon, 28, and Jason Posada, 31. Both fled the scene after the crash. WSP later determined the truck was stolen on Feb. 12. The vehicle had a California license plate.

Seaburg followed the two suspects to a nearby apartment complex where, according to the documents obtained by ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7, a physical alteration between Seaburg and Posada broke out. During the fight, Posada displayed a gun. Seaburg drew his firearm and attempted to shoot, but his gun didn’t fire. Posada then shot Seaburg five times before taking Seaburg’s issued firearm and shooting him again.

In total, Seaburg was shot nine times during the confrontation. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. He suffered serious injuries, but was able to leave the ICU five days later.

“I want to publicly thank the other troopers, the Kent police officers and the first responder/medical professionals who so quickly attended to our wounded colleague’s urgent medical needs,” WSP Chief John Batiste wrote in a prepared statement. “Their quick and heroic actions kept this from being a larger tragedy.”

After 11 months of recovery, Seaburg has returned to his post with WSP.

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“What an awesome day!” WSP Trooper Rick Johnson stated on social media. “After being shot multiple times last February, Trooper Seaburg returned to full duty today! Welcome back!!!”

Posada was charged with assault in the first degree, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree and theft of a firearm. He pled not guilty last March. His trial is set for Feb. 24 and is being held in King County Jail.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, . You can read his stories here and you can email him here.