The following cases were submitted by Corporal Chad Brubaker of the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office in consideration for the 2010 "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 2010 "Case Of The Year".

Suspect Track

• Handler: Corporal Brubaker
• K9: K9 Zar (Patrol/Narcotics)
• Agency: Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
• Date: 08-21-2010
• Location: Elk Run Rd, Fauquier VA
  

       On 8/21/10 at approximately 2118 hours, Corporal Brubaker was requested to assist with a K-9 in the 10000 Block of Elk Run Rd.
       Upon arrival in the rear I was briefed by Deputy Collins who advised that he initiated pursuit with two ATVs on Elk Run Rd near Sowego Rd. Deputy Collins advised that one of the ATVs crashed during the pursuit and the driver fled. Deputy Collins advised that he had felony eluding and requested I attempt to locate the suspect. Deputy Collins advised that the subject fled along side Elk Run Rd towards a small group of trees.
       I deployed my tracking/trailing certified K-9 Zar and prepared him for the search. I took K-9 Zar to the area and gave him the command to tracking/trailing perpendicular to the direction that the subject fled in. Once deployed K-9 Zar gave a sharp head turn and began to track towards the area that the subject fled to. K-9 Zar remained on track until reaching a ditch that emptied into a small patch of woods that is plainly visible on the attached map. Once in that ditch, K-9 Zar began to move along the ditch line which is typical of that particular land topography. As I approached the wooded area and ditch I heard what sounded like music. I inquired on the radio if the music could be heard by other deputies in the area. I was advised that the music was most likely coming from a nearby party.
       I continued with the tracking/trailing but K-9 Zar refused to work to the other side of the ditch line. I worked back to the area marked on the map with the number "1" and heard the music again. This time I was certain that the music was not from a party but a ring-tone on a cell phone. At about the same time I could see a huge change in K-9 Zar's body behavior, and used a light to illuminate the area and discovered a cell phone in the field. I recovered the cell phone and attempted to continue with the tracking/trailing, but K-9 Zar again refused to leave the area. I allowed him to return to the area and he continued to change his breathing pattern greatly. K-9 Zar worked back under a tree that had fallen and was covered with vines. As I light the area up again, I located helmet and discovered that the subject had laid down in the area in an attempted to evade capture.
       At that point thinking the subject may still be in the small patch of woods I gave two departmental K-9 challenges with no response. I then deployed K-9 Zar on an area search of the small wooded area. After several minutes of searching I was not able to locate the offender in the woods.
       I terminated my track and turned the track over to incoming K-9.

       Once back at my vehicle I returned K-9 Zar to the vehicle and attempted to assist Deputy Collins with the investigation. I called a number on the phone from the contacts list that was labeled as "Dad". Upon speaking with that subject, I advised him that the phone had been turned into the Sheriff's Office and we were attempting to locate the owner so that we could return the phone. The person advised that the phone belonged to Shawn Lee and that he lived in Stafford.
       The map attached shows the approximate direction of the track.

  

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  Article Search

• Handler: Corporal Brubaker
• K9: K9 Zar (Patrol/Narcotics)
• Agency: Fauquier County Sheriff's Office
• Date: 09-08-2010
• Location: Elk Run Rd, Fauquier VA
  

       On 9/8/10 at approximately 0827 hours Corporal Brubaker was contacted by WFJCC in reference to a K-9 call out.
       Upon arrival at 12619 Elk Run Road I made contact with Deputy Thorpe who advised that he had a male flee traffic stop. Deputy Thorpe advised that he caught the male after a short foot pursuit. Deputy Thorpe advised that the suspect had a history of narcotic use and he requested that I conduct an article search of the area.
       I deployed my article search certified K-9 Zar and prepared him for the search. Deputy Thorpe took me to the area where the foot pursuit started at. I placed K-9 Zar on a dead ring on a 15 foot lead. I gave K-9 Zar the command to locate an article. K-9 Zar initially went into more of a track than an article search, which was not uncommon. I allowed K-9 Zar to track the area. I was able to see disturbed vegetation and broken sticks along the track, eventually coming to an area where the leaves were very disturbed. K-9 Zar began to air scent, as if he was at the end of the track.
       I kept K-9 Zar on the lead and worked the area where we initially tracked. I took note of the area and stayed on the track while K-9 Zar cast to the side. While on lead, I noticed a huge change in behavior and noted that K-9 Zar in place on something. Looking closer, I located a safety pin that I assumed was used to hold up the suspect's pants.
       I then allowed K-9 Zar off lead again giving the command to locate an article. K-9 Zar was intent in his search eventually coming to US currency in the area. Deputy Thorpe secured the money. K-9 Zar was allowed to continue working approximately 10 feet of the original track that I had located. K-9 Zar worked to a low hanging tree and placed his nose directly on a plastic bag. Upon arriving in the area I discovered that the bag contained an off-white chunky substance suspected to be crack cocaine.
       K-9 Zar exhibited the classic signs of being in human odor at every article he located.
       K-9 Zar was praised and secured.

  

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