Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Digest

Longtime partners take bite out of crime together

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 24, 2007

Last Sunday at 9:38 p.m., an alert resident called the police after hearing banging sounds and observing suspicious people at the Meadowlawn Little League complex in St. Petersburg.

Officer Don Beauvois, a police dog handler for 16 years, and Cody, his four-legged partner for the past five years, responded to the call.

Beauvois and Cody quietly approached a building, where they found a door that appeared damaged from an attempted forced entry. They then heard banging noises inside. Beauvois requested additional police units for a burglary-in-progress, but before they could arrive, two suspects walked out of a door, carrying items in their hands.

Beauvois challenged them, saying, "St. Petersburg Police K-9 - get on the ground!" One suspect stopped; the other ran away. Then a third suspect appeared on the roof and jumped to the ground.

Beauvois released Cody to apprehend the fleeing suspect, and then he aimed his Taser at the two remaining suspects, ordering both of them to the ground. These two suspects wisely complied.

Cody quickly apprehended the fleeing suspect, holding the juvenile by the right thigh until additional officers arrived.

Cody's prisoner sustained minor dog-bite injuries. He was treated by officers at the scene then transported to the hospital for additional treatment. One of the suspects admitted breaking a window to get inside the business, where all three of them stole items and spray-painted graffiti throughout the building. All of them have been charged with commercial burglary and criminal mischief.

Bill Proffitt, St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 23:43:42]