File # 14-33558
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Listen: Police Service Dog Conan Tracks Violent Suspect Over One Kilometre
Victoria BC – VicPD’s Police Service Dog (PSD) Conan and his handler are being credited with tracking a suspect, wanted for a violent attack, over one kilometer.
Officers were called to the 1000-block of Lyall Street in Esquimalt at approximately 2:15 a.m., for a report of a violent altercation at a house. Arriving officers found the suspect had violently assaulted another resident in the house before fleeing the residence with his girlfriend.
It was at that time that PSD Conan started the track. PSD Conan and his handler tracked from the residence through the nearby Macaulay school grounds and onto Moody Crescent. As the track progressed, PSD Conan led officers to a large chain-link fence hidden in some bushes. He then led officers to a hole cut in the fence and through to the other side. The track continued through the bush and towards some historic, abandoned military buildings.
PSD Conan led the officers to a specific building and began to indicate to officers that there were people inside.
The suspect and his girlfriend came out of the building after hearing officers calling for them. They were arrested without incident.
The track of the two spanned over one kilometre and lasted nearly an hour.
The 22-year-old Esquimalt man was taken back to VicPD headquarters where he was held in custody. Officers are recommending he be charged with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and failing to comply with a probation order.
