Bossier Sheriff’s K-9 Helps Solve String of Vehicle Burglaries

A Bossier Sheriff's K-9 that's been on the job for two days has already aided in solving a string of vehicle burglaries that netted five arrests.

Arco is a 2 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois that spent last week at U.S. K-9 Unlimited, a training facility in Kaplan, Louisiana, for law enforcement dogs. Arco was trained to perform various tasks, like narcotics recognition, tracking, bite work and obedience.

The K-9 was called into action the day after returning from training. His handler, Deputy Chris Isom, was called to a neighborhood in north Bossier Parish late Friday night, after a Cypress Bend resident reported a vehicle burglary.

Deputy Isom showed Arco a footprint, and the dog tracked the scent for about 400 yards, from Cypress Bend to the Haymeadow Trailer Park, and ultimately to the 5200 block of Timothy Trail.

Detectives got a warrant to search a mobile home there, and that's where they found a stolen handgun and rifle, several boxes of ammunition, two laptop computers, debit cards, several purses and wallets containing personal information, headphones, cash marijuana and a scale.

Deputies arrested two male juveniles, aged 13 and 16, and charged them with illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance and possession of marijuana.They'll also face seven charged each of vehicle burglary, and other charges are pending.

Other residents at the trailer -- 44-year-old Mark Jennings and 18-year-old Christian Jennings -- were arrested by summons for one count each of marijuana possession, and 76-year-old Emma Jennings was charged with allowing stolen goods to be stored in the mobile home.

"This was a team effort, from patrol to Deputy Isom and our new K-9, Arco, and detectives," said Sheriff Julian Whittington in a news release. "We here at the Bossier Sheriff's Office are dedicated to keeping crime low and our entire Criminal Division works tirelessly to solve cases and keep the bad guys off the streets."

As a deterrent to these types of crimes, the sheriff's office reminds you to lock your vehicle doors and remove valuables from them, or at least from plain sight. If you are at home, it's a good idea to keep your garage doors down. And remember, if you see something or someone suspicious, contact the Bossier Sheriff's Office at (318) 965-2203.