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K9 Ados
K9 ADOS
Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
Narcotic Detection & Patrol Utility
Belgian Malinois (Blue)

 

 

2010 "Case of The Year" Submissions

     The following cases were submitted by Corporal Darrell Shores of the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office in consideration for the 2009 "Case Of The Year" Award. These are ordered by the case occurrence date. Some of the cases may have had names or addresses removed to protect identities for cases that have not been resolved through the court system. All suspects are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. These cases are from official reports submitted by the officer for cases that meet the criteria for the 2009 "Case Of The Year".


DUI

  • Handler: Corporal Shores
  • K9: K9 Ados (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
  • Date: 12-01-2009
  • Location: Marsh Road/Catlett Road, Fauquier County

         On the above time and date while on routine patrol of the Bealeton area I approached the stop light at the intersection of Marsh Rd and Catlett Rd stopping behind a Ford Ranger bearing VA registration ###-####. I followed the vehicle from northbound Marsh Rd onto southbound Catlett Rd. While following the vehicle I noticed that the operator could not maintain lane control. The vehicle drifted back and forth constantly from line to line crossing the center line twice. Upon approach of the Edgewood East subdivision the road widens to accommodate a center turn lane. The vehicle crossed halfway into the center lane before coming back into the southbound lanes. At that point I activated my emergency equipment stopping the vehicle in the 6600 block of Catlett Rd.
         I approached the vehicle requesting a license and registration from the operator immediately noticing that he was eating a cup of ice cream while driving. I identified the operator as Zachary Wheeler informing him why he'd been stopped. He stated that he understood. I noticed that his eyes were glassy, his speech was slurred, and his movements were slow. Wheeler stated that they`d been out for homecoming and had just stopped at Dairy Queen and were on the way home. I mentally noted that homecoming had been the previous night. I returned to my cruiser where I checked Wheeler's license and registration through VCIN/NCIC.
         I reapproached the vehicle and asked Wheeler to step out. He denied any alcohol or drug use stating that he was on pretrial and had been behaving himself. He was given the finger to nose field sobriety test, and the walk and turn field sobriety test. Wheeler cooperated with both tests passing the finger to nose and failing the walk and turn. He was able to keep count of his steps, but had difficulty maintaining balance. He would make heel to toe contact using his arms to maintain. Wheeler was then given a PBT with results of 0.00 BAC. Wheeler consented to a search of his person which revealed no contraband. I informed him that I had a narcotic K9 that I would be deploying asking if there were any narcotics present in the vehicle. Wheeler denied consent to search the vehicle, stating that it was okay to free air sniff with the K9 but his mother told him not to allow the police to search after his last arrest.
         The passenger, Cody Budd, was removed from the vehicle. Budd displayed behavior consistent with narcotic use. He had glassy eyes, slow movements, and difficulty maintaining balance. He was talkative and appeared happy about the situation. Budd consented to a search of his person resulting in no contraband being found. Both Wheeler and Budd were directed to stand with Dep. Waddell and Dep. Jacobs while I deployed the K9.
         I deployed K9 Ados, a certified narcotic detector dog, on lead. He was given the command to find the odor of narcotics before being led around the vehicle on lead. The free air sniff began at the left rear corner working counter clockwise toward the passengers side. Upon reaching the passengers door K9 Ados indicated on the door seam before alerting on the vehicle's side. K9 Ados was placed inside the truck off lead with the command to find narcotic odor. Initially K9 Ados alerted to the center floorboard where large pieces of marijuana stem and leaf were visible. K9 Ados then displayed unusual behavior indicating that he was in the odor of narcotics. K9 Ados continued to work until he indicated on the center console which was folded up into the seat. K9 Ados was rewarded and removed from the vehicle. The center console was opened revealing two clear plastic bags containing a substantial amount of marijuana.

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    Larceny

  • Handler: Corporal Shores
  • K9: K9 Ados (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
  • Date: 12-01-2009
  • Location: Ritchie Road, Fauquier County

         On the above time and date I was dispatched to 5333 Ritchie Rd for a larceny in progress. Dispatch reported that an employee of Fauquier Feed witnessed a suspect possibly siphoning gas from vehicles on the property. Sgt Wines arrived on scene first and began interviewing the witness.
         Upon my arrival Sgt Wines and the witness directed me to the area where the suspect was last scene. It was stated to me that the witness saw a white male in a white tshirt come from around the corner of a building on the back of the property with a gas can on his shoulder. The suspect realized the witness was there and fled back in the same direction.
         I deployed my assigned K9, K9 Ados, a certified tracking dog. A track was raised along the side of the building tracking to a semi trailer. The trailer door was open. The trailer was searched with negative results. K9 Ados was given the command to track from the back of the trailer. A track was raised leading from the trailer to the corner of the building where a five gallon gas can was located. The track continued across the gravel lot traveling west toward Marsh Rd. The track led to a row of vehicles for sale on the edge of the property circling back to the suspects vehicle.
         K9 Ados was returned to start point where the suspect was last scene and again given the command to track. The track again led to the open semi trailer. K9 Ados was again cast out to locate a track keeping him off of the previous track followed. K9 Ados tracked down into a drainage pond before tracking east behind Paynes Parking Designs. The track paralleled the rear property line of Paynes before turning left climbing over a burm entering their back lot. K9 Ados tracked across the gravel cutting the southeast corner of the lot before turning north following Paynes's main office building toward Ritchie Rd. Sgt Wines had become separated thus contacting me by radio to learn my location. After advising him of where I was he started toward Ritchie Rd to meet me. K9 Ados continued to track turning left heading west on Ritchie Rd. I advised Sgt Wines that the team was know tracking toward him. Sgt Wines then advised that he had come into contact with a suspect matching the description walking on Ritchie Rd traveling west toward Marsh Rd.
         Sgt Wines detained the male as he was wet and smelled of gas. The suspect stated to Sgt Wines that he was an employee of Paynes and retrieved the gas from their lot with permission from his supervisor. He further told Sgt Wines that he owed a fellow employee money for the car so he hid it walking to work. I proceeded to Paynes to verify the story learning that the suspect, identified as Brad Hoak, was terminated or resigned in September. He had no permission to take gas from the property.
         The investigation revealed that the gas cans as well as the gas had been stolen from the property of Fauquier Feeds and the businesses that rent lots on the property. Hoak was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with Trespassing and two counts of misdemeanor Larceny. A diagram of K9 Ados's two tracks was completed. The suspect did later state that he was hiding and witnessed the the K9 and I travel away from the trailer the first time stating that he panicked and moved away from the area rendering the second track a success.

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