There's a new crime fighter in town who is already putting his scents to good use.
Chozo, the Kootenay Boundary regional police dog and his handler Cpl. Sheldon Arychuk recently assisted the Trail Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) track down and arrest two local offenders.
Following a July 6 robbery at the Hot Spot Diner on Pine Avenue in downtown Trail, Chozo was on scene four days later when the Trail CRU apprehended the 25-year old suspect hiding in a Trail residence.
“With the police dog on the scene, we ended up talking him out before we had to send the police dog in,” RCMP Cpl. Darryl Orr told the Trail Times Friday morning.
The robbery suspect's name will not be released until his first court appearance, but Orr said his identity was known immediately.
The accused robber is a Trail man, who entered the restaurant late Sunday afternoon (July 6) and allegedly snatched the employees' tip jar from beside the front till.
He allegedly attempted to flee with the yellow jar (glass) and the money it contained but was confronted by the store owner, according to Orr.
A struggle ensued between the restaurant owner and suspect, however the perpetrator did exit the location with the tip jar and subsequently fled the scene.
“There were people in the area who recognized him instantly as he left,” said Orr. “So we had a strong idea who did it right after it happened.”
Prior to the July 10 arrest, Chozo was on scene July 4 to assist the Trail CRU arrest Sheldon Matteucci, a 34-year old Trail man wanted for two outstanding warrants for failing to comply with probation and breach of undertaking, noted Orr.
Matteucci was found hiding inside a West Trail residence, actively evading the police at the time of his arrest, but exited before Chozo had to be sent in, added Orr.
After those two successful arrests, police are continuing their search for David Grant Mack.
The 37-year old is believed to have returned to the Trail area after fleeing the city in March following an incident, according to Orr.
“He's been on the run for quite some time,” he explained. “We do believe he left the area for some months, but we were recently informed he's back in town,” Orr continued. “And we are pounding the pavement trying to find him.”
Mack has outstanding warrants of arrest for assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and failure to comply with probation.
He has a distinctive tattoo that appears to be a teardrop below his right eye.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.8477.