Dex, a Kelowna RCMP K9, was instrumental in apprehending two alleged thieves this week.
Image Credit: Contributed
January 08, 2016 - 1:10 PM
KELOWNA – Two men accused of stealing an ATV and a utility trailer yesterday morning are in police custody thanks to a Kelowna RCMP K9.
Just before 4 a.m., Jan. 7, Kelowna RCMP responded to a report thieves were in the process of taking a utility trailer loaded with a camouflage coloured Kawasaki side-by-side from a driveway on Peck Road.
The owner witnessed the theft and called police, saying the trailer struck and damaged the side of his house as the suspects drove away.
Officers searched for the suspects, who were last seen heading towards Springfield Road, until one officer was passed by the stolen vehicle traveling northbound on Old Vernon Road.
Within a matter of minutes officers located the truck and trailer jackknifed and abandoned in the 4500 block of Postill Drive,” Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says in a media release. “Investigators found two sets of fresh footprints in the snow leading from suspect truck. Officers set up an area of containment and called in an RCMP K9 to conduct a search.”
RCMP police service dog Dex managed to track one of the suspects north into a wooded area where he was arrested.
“After catching his first suspect, and while Dex was searching for the second, an officer on the perimeter of the area of containment located and arrested the second suspect who was attempting to flee the area in a taxi cab. Dex’s second track led to where the suspect, a 37-year-old Kelowna man, was picked up by the taxi.”
Christopher Drummond of Coldstream and Chad Cutting of Kelowna have each been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and theft over $5,000. Drummond and Cutting remain in custody and are expected to appear in court Jan. 14.
Police determined the suspects either cut or broke the lock from the trailer during the theft and recommend the public consider storing these types of trailers out of sight, use other vehicles to block the trailers in, chain them to a large fixed object and ensure there is ample lighting in the area.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016