New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Pictured here is K-9 Alex.
Early this morning, just before 2:30 a.m., the Charlton Barracks received a 911 call reporting they had just been struck by a pick up truck and the truck refused to stop. The caller maintained contact with the barracks and followed the vehicle off the highway to Ray St. in Grafton, where the suspect fled on foot.
Shortly thereafter, Tpr. Mark Augusta of the Charlton Barracks arrived on scene and requested K9 assistance. Four K9 MSP teams who were working a nearby saturation patrol arrived on scene shortly thereafter. Tpr. Jeff Johnson deployed K-9 Alex on a track from the crashed vehicle and quickly picked up a scent. Alex tracked through backyards and in between a row of bushes where he located the suspect.
Tpr. Johnson illuminated the suspect, who was lying on his back and refusing to show his hands. Tpr. Johnson made several commands for the suspect to show his hands and move out from the bushes, instead the suspect started kicking at the team. K-9 Alex apprehended the suspect and was able to pull him into the open where he was safely taken into custody.
The suspect was charged with operating under the influence (3rd off.), leaving the scene of a crash, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating after license suspension.
