Apr 18, 2007 9:46 pm US/Pacific
Axel, The Police Dog, Helps Foil Valley Robbery
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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A police dog named Axel, like the dog shown here, helped foil a Valley robbery, according to authorities.
CBS
A police dog named Axel help capture a robbery suspect during a stakeout in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday.
At about 9:40 a.m. on April 10 two detectives staked out a car involved in a robbery. When a man got into the car, detectives followed him until the suspect abandoned the vehicle on Gaviota Avenue, said Lt. Paul Vernon of the
Media Relations Section.
The man ran away and hid. The detectives called in help, including Axel and his handler, Officer Dennis O'Sullivan of the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, Vernon said.
At one point, Axel lost sight of his handler and it was during that time he located the suspect, 36-year-old Alex Francisco Vigil.
Axel bit Vigil on the right arm and thigh. Vigil was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Detectives confirmed that Vigil was driving the car connected to the recent robbery. More investigation will determine if he was involved in that robbery.
Police dogs are trained not to bite unless the dog is attacked or if the suspect tries to run away, Vernon said.
Last year, dogs conducted 518 searches and located 294 suspects.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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