**SUCCESSFUL CASE***
Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office K9 Handler Cpl. Adam Reynolds.
On 1/4/2023 Col. AB Reynolds was called out with K9 Ruger. A woman who had several felony warrants fled the area when Deputies tried to serve her. There was no scent article to utilize, only the area she was last seen. Some Deputies entered the woods and looked around while waiting for the k9 arrival. When Adam arrived, he learned of the woman lying under a trailer from when she ran. Adam cast for a trail in that area. A trail was initiated leading into a
nearby wooded area. It was lightly raining at the time. The trail then exited the woods and entered into a trailer park. Things changed, the k9s animation changed, they encountered a group of people sitting outside and asked questions. One person was identified as the woman that had been wanted and she was quickly taken into custody.
Good job Adam and Ruger. The cool part about the trail is the casting for scent. Without that start you won’t finish. Keep it going brother.
**SUCCESSFUL CASE***
INBTI Vice President and Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office K9 Handler Sgt. Michael Szelc.
On 12/28/22 a mutual aid request for K9 was made. One of our neighboring Police Departments requested a hound for an armed robbery that had occurred. A man entered a quick mart and held the clerk at gunpoint before firing one round into the floor and leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash. Witnesses stated they saw a man cross the road and go out of sight. K9 L.E. was presented with the spent cartridge as well as the area the suspect was standing. Exiting the store, she led to the right side of the building and behind, several areas of disturbance that showed a shoe impression running were crossed before L.E. continued into a development. She was committed to the trail, moving from one street to another before she gave a negative alert. I called the trail from there as she had no interest in leading anywhere else. On the walk back to the patrol car we had noticed a ring doorbell on one of the residences. Video captured confirmed the trail as the man was seen running away. Detectives started canvassing this area and located a witness who had seen the subject and had gotten the make, model and license plate number of the vehicle he entered. The subject was later located and placed into custody. In the car was the money and the gun used. A full confession was given. I later received a call from the Detective and he stated had your dog never went into the development they would not have canvassed it. Turns out L.E. stopped her trail within 30 yards of where the car was parked.
The dogs are utilized with a scent article and the belief is to find………your dog is instrumental in giving information so the investigation can continue. TKM continues to teach all the different components utilized, what they mean, and how to relay the information that your k9 partner is telling you.
**SUCCESSFUL CASE***
Reported by INBTI Vice President Michael Szelc
Deputy Steve Hairston of the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office has been added to our TEAM as another Bloodhound. Joker is from Boerners bloodhounds and we got him last May at 8 weeks old. Steve and Joker have been hard at it learning TKM. On April 8, 2022 This TEAM was tested and passed certification with NAPWDA and VPWDA. On 4/10/2022 Steve was called upon to run his first trail in search of a man that was violating a protective order. When Deputies responded the male subject fled from the scene. Steve presented Joker with a scent article he obtained from the home. Joker immediately pulled through the backyard to a barn, the trail was paused so the barn could be cleared. When the trail continued Joker pulled hard up a hill and into a wooded area, at times Steve had to crawl through the thick vegetation before leading out into a ditch line where Joker was no longer pulling but was seen jumping up and down . Steve than realized Joker was jumping up and down on the man who was laying down. This TEAM has been a welcomed addition to us and what a testament to TKM. Steve was able to convey the story Joker was telling through the lead and have a successful track. I wish them all the success in the world and look forward to their future.