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K9 MAX
Manassas City Police Department
Narcotic Detection & Patrol Utility
German Shepherd

 

 

2009 "Case of The Year" Submissions

     The following cases were submitted by Officer Chad Hyland of the Manassas City Police Department 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".


Robbery

  • Handler: Officer Hyland
  • K9: K9 Max (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Manassas City Police Department
  • Date: 02-07-2009
  • Location: Byrd Drive, Manassas City

         On February 7, 2009 at 2200 hours, I was driving home from end of shift when I heard a robbery dispatched at 9214 Byrd Drive. Being the on-call K9 unit, I responded to the scene in case a track was needed. I arrived on scene at 2204 hours and met with Sergeant Alfonso, the primary unit.
         Sgt. Alfonso advised that the victim was parked in the overflow parking lot located behind 9214 Byrd Drive. He picked up an unidentified female at Joe's Pizza located within the Georgetown South Shopping Center. The female brought the victim to the parking lot. While parked, an unidentified male opened the passenger door. He struck the victim in the face while the female held the victim by the throat. The male then produced a handgun. The victim’s personal belongings were taken. The victim stated he last saw the suspect fleeing on foot in the greens towards Aspen Place.
         I retrieved K9 Max from my vehicle and brought him to the last known location of the suspect. The vehicle was parked in an end parking spot nearest to the greens. There was approximately 20 minutes between the time of the robbery and K9 Max's deployment. I introduced K9 Max to the track approximately 10 feet from the passenger side door of the victim’s Nissan pickup truck. K9 Max's body behavior changed at the passenger door which is consistent with his locating human scent for a track.
         K9 Max continued in a southwesterly direction towards Aspen Place. Once K9 Max reached the end of the greens near the intersection of Aspen Place and Byrd Drive, K9 Max turned in a southern direction in order to exit the greens towards Byrd Drive. He again turned in a southwesterly direction and continued to follow the scent through the front yard of the townhouse located at the intersection of Aspen Place and Byrd Drive. K9 Max turned in a northwesterly direction and continued through the front yard of said residence. K9 Max continued to follow the scent down the asphalt sidewalk. K9 Max stopped in front of 9723 Aspen Place in the bush line located in the front yard of the residence. He placed his entire head into the bushes. He then exited the bush and did not recover any further scent.
         I continued down to the intersection of Aspen Place and George Street introducing K9 Max to areas to track. However, K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent. I brought K9 Max back to the greens located behind 9273 Aspen Place. I introduced K9 Max to the area where he made his turn in a southern direction out of the greens towards Byrd Drive. However, I introduced K9 Max to the greens located north of this turn towards the path behind the Georgetown South Shopping Center. I continued to attempt to locate human scent in this area. However, K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent in this area.
         I then introduced K9 Max to the greens for an article search. The entire greens area was searched by separating the area into different grids. K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of any articles. I then brought K9 Max to the entrance to the greens across from 9273 Aspen Place. There is a cut between townhouses that leads to a large, open area between Aspen Place and Beech Place. I introduced K9 Max to the greens in an attempt to track in this area. K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent in this area. I then introduced K9 Max to this same area for the purposes of conducting an article search in case the suspects threw evidence into this area. However, K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of articles in this area, either.
         Patrol units examined the bushes in front of 9723 Aspen Place where K9 Max placed his head. However, nothing was recovered from these bushes. K9 Max and I are certified in patrol and narcotics through the Virginia Police Canine Association.

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    Robbery

  • Handler: Officer Hyland
  • K9: K9 Max (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Manassas City Police Department
  • Date: 04-06-2009
  • Location: Digges Road, Manassas City

         On April 6, 2009 at 1718 hours, I responded to 8402 Digges Road in reference to a robbery that just occurred. Upon my arrival at 1723 hours, Officer Hanlin advised that he was flagged down by the victim stating a light skinned, possibly Hispanic male, forcibly took her purse from her possession. The victim advised that there was approximately $800-$1000 in the purse as well as a digital camera. She advised that the purse was cream in color. A witness to the incident advised that he saw someone running from the location of the incident towards Bruton Parish.
         K9 Max was deployed at the 4 side of the 7-11 in order to conduct a track/trail. K9 Max was introduced to the track/trail on the hard surface. K9 Max did not find human scent on the hard surface. I continued to introduce K9 Max to the vegetated areas along the fence line to Bruton Parish and Forum Way in order to find human scent. K9 Max was introduced to all of the holes in the fence allowing access to Bruton Parish from the shopping center. K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent at any of the gaps in the fence. I continued to introduce K9 Max to various locations along the shopping center and fence line to track/trail. At the end of the shopping center, K9 Max's body behavior changed in such a manner that is consistent with him locating human scent.
         K9 Max started to trail/track in a northwesterly direction towards Dorsey Circle. K9 Max indicated and alerted on a paper pamphlet. I looked at the pamphlet and noticed it was a domestic violence rights brochure from Prince William County Police. MPO Lee asked Officer Hanlin if this paperwork was related to the victim. Officer Hanlin advised that the victim summoned the Prince William County Police yesterday for a domestic violence call and was issued that pamphlet. K9 Max was introduced to the hard surface surrounding the pamphlet to continue a track/ trail. K9 Max continued in a northwesterly direction towards Dorsey Circle. K9 Max continued towards the dumpsters at the 2/ 3 corner of the shopping center. K9 Max went around to the back of the dumpster and stopped. K9 Max's body behavior changed in a manner that is consistent with him indicating to the presence of an article. However, he did not alert.
         Upon coming around the corner, I observed the victim’s purse laying behind the dumpster in a puddle of water. I continued to introduce K9 Max to track/ trail through the gap in the fence behind the dumpster that leads to Dorsey Circle. K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent. All four sides of Dorsey Circle were introduced to K9 Max along the hard surface and vegetated areas in order for him to re-establish human scent. K9 Max did not indicate to the presence of human scent. I returned to the area of the dumpster.
         Shoe impressions were located near the purse that led back out into the shopping center in the direction of the Red Panda. I introduced K9 Max to the hard surface along the 3 side of the Red Panda in order to establish human scent. However, this area was heavily contaminated with delivery trucks dropping products off to the establishments and vehicles picking their children up from the daycare center. K9 Max did not re-establish human scent and the track/trail was terminated at the dumpster where the purse was located. I returned to the 7-11 with K9 Max. Items 1-4 on the property recovered section of this report were recovered during the track/ trail inside the purse.
         I introduced K9 Max to conduct an article search along the fence line on the shopping center side of Forum Way. K9 Max indicated and alerted on a receipt belonging to the victim. K9 Max was introduced to conduct an article search on the Forum Way side of the fence line. K9 Max indicated and alerted on a Xanax prescription bottle. The victim stated that she was prescribed this medication during the initial interview. K9 Max was rewarded and reintroduced to an article search. K9 Max continued in a northwesterly direction along the fence line on Forum Way. K9 Max indicated and alerted on the wallet. There were numerous contents thrown about the ground as it appears the suspect threw this item over the fence. K9 Max was rewarded and reintroduced to conduct an article search. K9 Max indicated and alerted on a red digital camera along this same fence line. K9 Max was rewarded and reintroduced to conduct an article search. No other articles were recovered. K9 Max did not mouth any of the articles.
         Items 5-10 were recovered during the article search. All property recovered was photographed. All property taken during the robbery was recovered during the track and article search.
         K9 Max and I are certified in patrol and narcotics through the Virginia Police Canine Association.

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    Shots Fired

  • Handler: Officer Hyland
  • K9: K9 Max (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Manassas City Police Department
  • Date: 06-25-2009
  • Location: Cavalry Lane/Liberia Avenue, Manassas City

         On June 25, 2009 at 2317 hours, I responded to the intersection of Cavalry Lane and Liberia Avenue in reference to a shots fired call. Upon my arrival at 2326 hours, Officer Demski was interviewing the victim, David Pulsifer.
         Mr. Pulsifer was driving his vehicle southeast on Liberia Avenue. In the area of 8605 Liberia Avenue, Mr. Pulsifer heard a loud gunshot. He then heard the impact on his vehicle. Mr. Pulsifer saw two males running from the area towards Cannon Ridge.
         Mr. Pulsifer’s vehicle was struck in the driver’s door by a paintball causing a dent in the door. Mr. Pulsifer thought that he was receiving actual gunfire and ducked onto his passenger seat. I asked Mr. Pulsifer to take me to the area in which he last saw the two males running in order to locate a track. At that time, two males were walking from the area of Brigade Court. Mr. Pulsifer immediately identified these two individuals as the persons fleeing the area in which the crime occurred.
         Officer Demski and I spoke with these individuals. We separated the individuals in order to interview. I spoke with Edgwar Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez was honest and forthcoming. He stated that he was not the individual that shot the vehicle with the paintball gun; however, he was with the individuals that did. When asked who shot the car, Mr. Gonzalez looked at his friend, Victor Cortez, but did not outwardly state that it was him. I told him that I understood his hesitation but asked him where the paintball guns were now located so that a child would not pick them up. Mr. Gonzalez stated that the paintball gun was located near the creek bed to the rear of Terrace View Court.
         At 2347 hours, I notified communications that K9 Max was being deployed for an article search. At first, Mr. Gonzalez stated that the weapons were in the tree line along the creek bed. I initially deployed K9 Max in a northwesterly direction along the creek bed on the Terrace View side of the creek bed. This side consisted of heavy vegetation and a hill. K9 Max did not detect, indicate, or alert the presence of human scent.
         Sgt. Horton walked Mr. Gonzalez to the area in which K9 Max was searching. Mr. Gonzalez then stated that the gun was on the other side of the creek bed. K9 Max was then deployed in a northwesterly direction based on the current air current along the Old Hickory Court side of the creek bed. K9 Max's body behavior changed in a manner which is consistent with him detecting human scent approximately thirty yards down the creek bed. K9 Max's body behavior further changed in a manner which is consistent with him indicating to the presence of human scent. K9 Max then alerted on the human scent by attempting to lay down. However, the article was at the base of a small incline and under a tree so he did not lay completely down. K9 Max did not touch, alter, or contaminate the article in any way. K9 Max was rewarded and placed back on his lead. He was then placed in his vehicle.
         I returned to the articles and remained with them until Officer Ovalle responded in order to take pictures. I collected the articles which were identified as two paintball guns, a black CO2 canister, and a black t-shirt after they were photographed. The black CO2 canister rolled down the hill while I was attempting to reach it and fell into the creek bed but was collected. I immediately brought the property to headquarters and turned them over to Officer Demski for packaging and processing. Gloves were worn throughout the collection and processing. Officer Demski arrested Victor Cortez, 1/20/1991, of 9021 Centreville Road Lot 19 for the shooting a missile at a vehicle. Mr. Cortez confessed under Miranda of the shooting the missile at the vehicle.
         K9 Max and I are certified in patrol and narcotics through the Virginia Police Canine Association.

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    Narcotics Vehicle Search

  • Handler: Officer Hyland
  • K9: K9 Max (Patrol/Narcotics)
  • Agency: Manassas City Police Department
  • Date: 11-02-2009
  • Location: Portner Avenue/Main Street, Manassas City

         On November 2, 2009 at 2206 hours, I was on duty, in a marked police cruiser, in uniform, and displaying my badge of authority. I observed the listed vehicle at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Church Street while traveling north on Grant Avenue. I observed the vehicle had a defective rear left brake light in that it was not illuminated at all.
         I continued to follow the vehicle while I conducted DMV checks on the license plate to ensure that the vehicle was not stolen. The vehicle turned east onto Portner Avenue. I initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Portner Avenue and Main Street. The vehicle came to a stop prior to Main Street.
         Once I activated my spotlight onto the vehicle, the suspect vehicle abruptly and quickly accelerated through the intersection. I believed that the vehicle was going to disregard my emergency equipment and signal to stop. The vehicle then brushed against shrubs on the other side of the intersection. I believed that the passenger was going to attempt to discard something into these bushes. Detective Reynolds and Detective Loving were directly behind me.
         Upon the vehicle stopping approximately 30 yards passed their initial stop, I immediately exited my vehicle. Detective Reynolds approached the driver side, I approached the passenger side. I ordered the passenger, later identified as Denis Rivera-Martinez (H/m, 11/2/86), out of the vehicle. He complied with this command. I immediately asked Mr. Rivera if he had any weapons on his person. He stated that he did not. I then asked him if he had any drugs on his person. He stated that he did not. I then asked him for consent to search his person. This request was given in English.
         Mr. Rivera stated that I could search him and immediately turned around without me requesting and puts his arms out to his side like an airplane. During the consent search, I asked Mr. Rivera from where he was coming. He stated that he just bought tacos from the truck in the Georgetown South Shopping Center. When asked where the tacos were, he stated that he had eaten them. I asked him where the trash from the food was located. He did not answer. This search was negative for drugs or weapons. Mr. Rivera was then turned over to Detective Reynolds and Detective Loving who were asking the driver as to the reason that he quickly and abruptly went through the intersection upon my activating my spotlight.
         While the detectives were questioning the driver and the passenger, I recovered K9 Max from my cruiser. I conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle starting at 2211 hours. I started the free air sniff at the front, left quarter panel of the vehicle. K9 Max’s body behavior changed in a manner which is consistent with him detecting the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle approximately one foot passed the driver’s door. K9 Max followed the scent cone that was being created by the air current flowing from the front, right quarter panel towards the rear, left quarter panel and coming through the driver door seam at the “B” pillar. K9 Max’s body behavior further changed in a manner which is consistent with him indicating to the presence of the odor of narcotics emanating from the driver door seam of the vehicle. K9 Max aggressively alerted to said area. K9 Max was then praised off of this indication and placed inside the vehicle via the driver door.
         K9 Max’s body behavior immediately changed in manner which is consistent with him detecting the odor of narcotics upon entering the vehicle emanating from the front passenger compartment of the vehicle (#2). K9 Max jumped to the passenger seat. He then placed his head down to the floor board of the passenger compartment. His body behavior further changed in a manner which is consistent with him indicating to the presence of the odor of narcotics emanating along the floor board of the passenger compartment. K9 Max continued this drastic change in body behavior that is consistent with him indicating to the presence of the odor of narcotics all along the floor board of the passenger compartment. There is no center console separating the driver and passenger seats in the listed vehicle. There is a protruding center console off the main dash of the vehicle that contains several compartments, heating/ac controls, radio, etc, in this area. K9 Max aggressively alerted on this protruding center console on the passenger side near the floorboard. K9 Max was rewarded and removed from the vehicle. The search of the vehicle ended at 2215 hours.
         Upon K9 Max’s indication to the presence of the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle, I heard handcuffs being applied to the driver, identified as Daniel Antonio Lovo Chicas (H/m, 10/1/81), and Mr. Rivera. Upon the completion of K9 Max’s search, I searched the vehicle with Detective Reynolds. No illicit substances were located within the vehicle. I then went to Detective Loving and Officer Agule who were remaining with the two parties located within the vehicle. I advised Detective Loving that no illicit substances were found within the vehicle. Mr. Rivera was asked to remove his shoe to which he complied.
         Mr. Rivera’s shoes were of the athletic style and the shoelaces were not tied and very loose on his foot. Mr. Rivera first removed his left shoe. He then removed his right shoe. A large bulge was observed in his left sock on the bottom of his left foot. Detective Loving removed the sock. Three baggies containing a green, leafy substance weighing a total of approximately 3 grams fell out of his sock. Officer Agule and I were standing behind Detective Loving when the sock was removed. I observed the bulge protruding from the sock.
         The substance was tested using a field test kit that is approved by the Division of Forensic Science by Officer Agule. Officer Agule showed me the positive results for marijuana. Mr. Rivera had no form of identification. He could not state his address; when asked for his date of birth and for his age (in Spanish), Mr. Rivera stated November 2, 1986, and that he was 24 years old for which both did not coincide. Mr. Rivera was taken into custodial arrest by Officer Agule for the possession of marijuana.
         K9 Max and I are certified in patrol and narcotics through the Virginia Police Canine Association.

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