K-9 Team called to Catch Theif

by Robert Craig

Visalia, Calif (May 4, 2009)- On May 4, 2009 at 2:44 in the morning Visalia Police stopped a green BMW with no license plates. The routine stop escalated when the driver of the BMW fled on foot near the 700 block of E. Race St.

The police officers setup a perimeter and called in a K-9 team who arrived within fifteen minutes. When asked what factors lead to the decision to use a K-9 team Sgt. Steven Phillips replied, “There are three factors an officer considers when sending in a K-9 team, the seriousness of the crime, officer safety, and a K-9’s ability to track and cover a large area.”

The K-9 team tracked the suspect to the roof of a mini-storage building a block away on 700 E Douglas. At 3:33 a.m. the suspect, Vidal Rodriguez, 21, of 414 E. Sweet St. in Visalia, was in police custody.

Upon further investigation the BMW was found to have been reported stolen the previous day.

Rodriguez is currently being held in the Tulare County Jail on charges of vehicle theft and resisting arrest.