K-9 takes down two criminals

what can Blu’ do for you? by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

K-9 takes down two criminals

Six K-9 units plan an integral role in the operations of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Blu’ has been eating a lot lately, but not just his dog food. 

The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois is the four-legged better half of the K-9 unit with Dep. Jon Welker of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Blu’ also was the paws behind apprehending two criminals over the weekend.

Both burglaries took place along the Belle Terre Parkway corridor, and in both instances, the two suspects were treated for bite wounds at Florida Hospital Flagler.

The first incident took place around 8:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 27. Blu’ and Welker brought down Jeremiah Harris, 20, of Bunnell, who was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of resisting arrest with violence and grand theft in relation to the burglary at 149 Rae Drive.

The incident began when the residential alarm went off at the home. Deputies responded and waited for the occupant to return home.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Laura Kruger was heading home when she spotted a male walking along Rymfire Drive — the  same male she saw when she left for work earlier that morning. The male, later identified as Harris, was carrying a laptop similar to the one that was missing from Kruger's home.

Meanwhile, another deputy saw a suspect who was walking southbound on the Rymfire Drive sidewalk. The suspect matched the description provided by Kruger.

That’s where Welker and Blu’ got involved.

Welker and his K-9 tracked Harris to 1 Reynolds Place, where Welker noticed muddy handprints on the porch screens. That led Welker behind the home to investigate the canal, where Harris was finally located.

Harris was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility without further incident. The pursuit took nearly two hours and also caused Rymfire Elementary School to go on lockdown for about 35 minutes.

Paula St. Francis, principal of RES, said it’s mandatory the school practices lockdowns at least twice a year and said Friday’s lockdown went smoothly.

Pine Grove pursuit

The weekend wasn't over for Welker and Blu’. The team apprehended Markis Flourney, 18, of Daytona Beach, Sunday, Aug. 29. Flourney is being charged with armed burglary to an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft and resisting arrest. He, too, was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility. Additionally, there was a second suspect involved, who, as recent as the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 1, is still at large.

Deputies responded around 10:15 a.m. to Pine Grove Drive based on a report of two males kicking in the front door of an unoccupied home. Witnesses said one of the men had a gun.

The two men fled in a vehicle after deputies arrived. The getaway car crashed shortly after on Belle Terre Parkway, and the suspects ran in opposite directions.

Flagler County’s FireFlight and Volusia Air One helicopters searched from the air, while Welker and Blu’ nabbed Flourney.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 313-4911.

At work and home

For Welker and Blu’, these were just two days on the job. He said Blu’ has been deployed on more than 70 narcotic or patrol-related searches, but he’s more than a sheriff’s canine. Welker says being a canine handler is the most rewarding position he has held in his law enforcement career.

“While at work, I can perform my duties with the confidence of having a dedicated partner by my side, who will, without hesitation, sacrifice himself to protect me," he said. “At home, I’m fortunate enough to have Blu’ as an additional member in my family. He takes the role of a loving family pet to my children while maintaining his role as my best friend and partner.”