In the early morning of May 3rd 2017, South Dakota Special Agent and INBTI Instructor Chad Carpenter along with North Dakota Trooper and Assistant Instructor Steven Mayer were requested to respond to an officer involved shooting in Lake County South Dakota. After a multi-county vehicle pursuit, the suspect shot an officer in the arm and fled on foot. Trooper Mayer and K9 Boudreaux, flanked by INBTI certified handler Trooper Cody Harstad, SA Carpenter, SWAT supported by the South Dakota Highway Patrol fixed wing aircraft tracked the suspect for nearly 1.5 hours total. As the K9 team began to crest a hill, the aircraft located the heat signature of the armed suspect in a ditch on the opposite side.

INBTI Instructor Carpenter had been administering a two day INBTI certification for the North Dakota Highway Patrol Troopers when they received the call. During the search, K9 Boudreaux had to be stopped on multiple occasions to allow SWAT officers to clear the area and after Boudreaux was shocked on the nose by an electric fence! Trooper Mayer asked Instructor Carpenter if these stops could count towards the ‘stop and rest’ component of our evaluation. Instructor Carpenter replied “you haven’t found the guy yet"!

Trooper Mayer has said that even though North Dakota Trooper Cody Harstad did not run his K9, he was crucial in helping him work the track as a flanker!

A job well done to everyone involved. We are so proud of our instructors/officers and grateful that this bad guy if off the streets! Our thoughts and prayers to the officer shot for a quick recovery!