The clean up team in Pemberton, NJ: Ptl. Bob Ettinger and K9 Urgo

11/2008

On May 18th 2008 at 4:40 am I was called in to do a track for a subject who brutally assaulted both physically and sexually his ex-Friend during which the victim's children saw parts of the event, then stole the victim's vehicle. While in route to the location of the victim’s vehicle, patrols advised me that they had set up a perimeter and the suspect was, a black male wearing all black clothes and he was still possible armed with a knife and had told the victim prior to him leaving that someone was going to die tonight. Upon arrival spoke with patrols who advised me where they had been around the vehicle prior to me starting the track. When I asked if they knew which way the suspect had gone. Patrols advised they did not know the direction or time lapse, however the original call came in at approximately 03:25 hours and I was starting the track at 05:15. I then deployed K9 Urgo and went to the front of the vehicle on a fire trail outside the area of where patrols advised me where they  had gone prior to my arrival. I gave K9 Urgo his track command and he began tracking north up a fire trail. We tracked approximately 50 (fifty) feet and then K9 Urgo turned southeast on another trail and began tracking approximately 100 (one hundred) feet. K9 Urgo then began giving me indications that someone was hiding in the woods east of the trail. I stopped K9 Urgo and gave the standard K9 warning in the direction of where K9 Urgo was indicating. I then observed a black male wearing all black laying down attempting to hide behind 2 (two) large oak trees. I advised suspect to come out with his hands up or I would release K9 Urgo and of course K9 Urgo was on guard and began barking and wanting to apprehend the suspect himself. However the suspect was still possible armed with the knife, so I kept K9 Urgo on lead due the suspect was not a treat nor was he running. With K9 Urgo's encouragement the suspect began to move slowly, but still refused to show his hands. I again advised him to show his hands and come out or I would release K9 Urgo and I let a little slack out on the lead to show the suspect hat K9 Urgo was more than happy to move him a little faster. Suspect began to comply, when he saw K9 Urgo was not going to back down. I had the suspect come out of the woods and patrols arrived as back up and assisted in taking suspect in custody. After suspect was taken into custody, we escorted the suspect back to a marked patrol unit. I placed K9 Urgo back into my patrol vehicle and went back to where suspect was hiding and located a knife (blade was approximately 6(six) inches) and a black shirt next to the large oak trees. The track ended at 05:18 am for total time of 3 minute track. Suspect was charged with a long list of charges to include rape, criminal restraint, aggravated assault, and then lodged in jail on $100,000 bail.
 
Then on Oct. 14, 2008 at approximately 12:23 am Police officers were dispatched to a very remote area for a male subject who ran into the woods telling his wife he wanted to commit suicide. The subject had apparently had been drinking heavily and had taken overdose of depression medication. Patrol units responded to the area and set up a perimeter and were unable to locate subject. I responded to the area and conducted a track with K9 Urgo. The brush was very thick and dense which worked to our advantage. K9 Urgo pulled very hard into the woods to the point I had to hold him back and he kept jumping up looking over the brush but kept pulling. Urgo tracked approximately 75 to 80 yards into the woods and located the subject laying face down and unresponsive. Subject was then transported to the hospital for the overdose and mental evaluation.