Crime & Safety

Hemet Police K9 Helps Take in Burglary Suspect First Week on the Job

"Jack" had just recently completed his training with his human handler, and got right to work, police said.

Hemet's newest canine officer helped police take in a commercial burglary suspect early Wednesday morning, the department said.

K9 Jack assisted in the caputure of a homeless man who was spotted running from the location of a break-in around 3:30 a.m. in the area of Florida and Sanderson, according to Hemet Police Cpl. Glen Brock.

"The suspect refused to follow the orders of the officers and a brief struggle ensued," Brock said of the moments leading up to Jack's work.  "Ultimately the suspect was taken into custody with the assistance of Jack– part of the City of Hemet’s newest police K-9 team."

According to Brock, 22-year-old Alejandro Garcia was arrested following a burglary that had been reported at a nearby restaurant, in the 3000 block of W. Florida Avenue.

"The reporting party advised that the suspect was kicking the front door, ultimately breaking out the window and entering the business," he said.  "This is similar to multiple commercial burglaries our city has experienced in 
the past few weeks and all available patrol units began responding to the location."

Brock said Garcia was being booked into the Riverside County jail system on charges of burglary, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous weapon, being under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and violation of probation.  Booking records weren't immediately available. 

Hemet Police Lt. Eric Dickson tells Banning-Beaumont Patch that Jack had just started with the department recently, and this was his first week working on the job.  

Jack started a five week handler course with his partner Officer M. Gomez in mid-June, according to the Hemet Police K-9 Unit Facebook page.


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