New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Sunday, January 6th around 4:45 a.m., Methuen Police Department requested K9 assistance in searching for a domestic assault and battery suspect who fled a residence on foot in their city. Trooper Dan Purtell of the K9 Unit responded to assist.
Trooper Purtell deployed K9 Neko from the point last seen and attempted a track. Neko acquired the suspect’s scent and tracked from the street into a nearby backyard. Neko tracked through that yard, jumped a chain link fence and showed a proximity alert in the next yard. Neko became frantic and started jumping and whining at a tall wooden fence that the team was unable to get over. Believing the suspect was in the next yard, the tracking team adjusted the perimeter and were able to get over a smaller chain link fence at the back of the yard. After clearing the yard they believed the suspect was in, Neko tracked towards the street between two houses. He then took a left into a front yard and as he pulled through the driveway, Neko dove under a work van and apprehended the suspect who was hiding underneath it.
The suspect was placed under arrest by Officer Chris Gagne and transported to the hospital. After treatment, the suspect was transported to the Methuen Police Department where he was booked for domestic A&B, malicious destruction of property, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.
