Avon Police Department K9 and Human Officer Credited with Getting Violent Suspect and Meth Off the Street

(KNSI) — An Avon Police Department K9 officer and his human handler are credited with taking a violent criminal and several pounds of methamphetamine off the streets.

According to the department’s Facebook page, K9 Maverick was called to help the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office clear a home during a search warrant. The suspect lived at the house, had a warrant out for first-degree drug possession, and had a history of having guns. He was also wanted for a domestic assault.

K9 Maverick went in and cleared the house before police went in. They allegedly found several guns along the way before coming to a bedroom they said was heavily barricaded. Once police entered the room, they said the only place left to search was a crawl space under the stairs. Police said they gave numerous commands for the suspect to come out and warned the dog would come in and still got no response. They say Maverick made his way through the cluttered closet and over some debris and apprehended the suspect, who surrendered without further incident.

A few days later, another agency asked for help sniffing a vehicle for possible narcotics, which allegedly turned up four pounds of meth.

The department says K9 Maverick and his Handler Officer Landon Gudim continue to train for situations like these and are an asset “not only to Avon but surrounding jurisdictions” and thanked the community for supporting the officers and K9 Maverick.

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