ADC K-9 Helps Capture Fleeing Felons

ASPC-Florence -- Four men who tried to outrun the law learned the hard way you can’t hide from a bloodhound’s nose. On May 24th, the Pinal County Sheriff's Deputies were involved in a high speed pursuit of a stolen pickup truck eastbound on U.S. 60. Just north of the town of Superior, the pickup blew a tire and the suspects fled on foot into the surrounding mountain area. Pinal County Sheriff's Officers chased the suspects but soon lost their trail, so they put out a call for help to the ASPC-Florence K-9 Unit.

COII Officers Kenny Vance, Scott Lahey and Berwin Brown, along with their bloodhound “Rocky,” responded and arrived at the scene, where they were briefed that they were looking for as many as three, possibly armed, suspects.

Officers and deputies with the Department of Public Safety, Pinal County Sheriff's Office and the Superior Police Department had set up a wide perimeter in the area. ADC Officers Vance, Lahey and Brown put "Rocky" into action and had him smell the drivers seat of the suspects vehicle. "Rocky" quickly picked up the scent and along with Vance, Lahey, Brown and two Pinal County Sheriff Deputies, they began pursuing the suspects.

During the chase, Officer Lahey found a fully loaded .357 magnum pistol in a holster that one of the suspects had tried to hide in the bushes. Several articles of clothing were also found on the trail after being discarded by the suspects. One of the Deputies and "Rocky" spotted one of the suspects hiding in some bushes and took him into custody. A short while later three more suspects were captured without incident.
A total of four Hispanic male suspects, one of them armed with a .30/.30 rifle, were arrested. The suspects were also in possession of methamphetamine. The ASPC-Florence Complex K-9 Unit should be commended for their professionalism and bravery in their assistance in the capture of four fugitives.