Remember that sweet little puppy we hired last year? She had a successful track last week locating a man suffering from mental health issues.

On May 3rd deputies responded to the area of Heflin’s Garage on Warrenton Road for a suspicious person. Originally, it was believed the man was involved in an earlier shooting on Bellows Avenue in nearby Olde Forge. The man had told workers at the garage he had video of a shooting and needed to get out of the area. He proceeded to flee on foot.

Deputy S.M. Eastman and K-9 Ruby were tasked with attempting to track the man through the woods. Another witness had called in to report the man was in the area of Amara Drive, across Warrenton Road from Heflin’s Garage. K-9 Ruby put her nose to the ground and went to work.

K-9 Ruby immediately picked up the scent and led Deputy Eastman down a steep hill through the woods. She stopped near a creek bed, wagging her tail and pawing at a pile of leaves. Deputy Eastman observed a pair of eyes looking out from beneath the leaf pile and gave commands for the man to surrender.

The man was detained and determined not to be involved in the shooting. He was however suffering from mental health issues. Thanks to the great work of Deputy Eastman and K-9 Ruby, the man was safely located and taken for mental health treatment.