Lake County sheriff canine Dax tracked down two burglary suspects and bit one of them after the suspect resisted arrest and struck the canine in Zion, officials said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that Dax and his handler John Forlenza were dispatched around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday to assist a local police department in a search.
Three suspects broke into vehicles and fled the area on foot in the 2900 block of 30th Street in Zion.
Dax picked up a scent and began tracking into an area of brush where he located two of the offenders hiding, the sheriff’s office said.
One of the suspects resisted arrest, struck Dax and was bit in the leg by the police canine.
He then surrendered and both suspects were taken into custody. Dax was uninjured during the incident.
Sheriff’s officials said a juvenile suspect was referred on charges of striking a police dog and resisting arrest.
The second suspect, identified as Omarion A. Springs, 19, of Zion, was charged with burglary and resisting a peace officer.
Prosecutors said Springs was found two stolen wallets from the burglaries.
He admitted to burglarizing the cars with the other two suspects and said they were primarily looking for cash, prosecutors said.
Springs is being held in the Lake County Jail on a $35,000 bond, records show.