Despite a brief pause in his working career, K9 officer Loki is back in full service and has wasted no time in assisting his fellow officers as well as the Howell County Sheriff’s Office. Both instances occurred within hours of each other last Monday night February 1, 2021 and just after midnight on Tuesday February 2, 2021.
Due to K9 Handler Officer Paul Bradshaw, Jr. being out of service after an on-duty injury, K9 Loki has been temporarily re-assigned to Corporal (Cpl.) Wes Stewart due to Cpl. Stewarts previous years of experience as a K9 Handler. Cpl. Stewart and K9 Loki had a mandatory two (2) week bonding period after the transfer was made and then both went to training and became a certified K9 team. All certifications for Cpl. Stewart and K9 Loki were completed at the end of January.
On Monday February 1, 2021, Deputies with the Howell County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a vehicle pursuit which resulted in the suspect vehicle crashing and the driver fleeing on foot. The Howell County Sheriff’s Office contacted the West Plains Police Department for assistance from Police K9 Loki.
West Plains Police Corporal Wes Stewart and K9 Loki arrived on scene and were told by Howell County Deputies of the last known location of the suspect. At this point, Corporal Stewart and K9 Loki began tracking the suspect. K9 Loki followed the suspect’s scent through a wooded area, into a clearing, and then to a detached garage at a residence on Pamela Drive in West Plains.
K9 Loki began picking up the suspect’s scent around the garage to the west side of the garage where Corporal Stewart located a male subject laying under bushes. The male subject was ordered to show his hand which he complied. A short time later, the male subject was identified as 31 year old Jacob Sims of West Plains.
Sims was taken into custody and transported to the Howell County Jail on an outstanding felony warrant out of Howell County and was additionally charged with Resisting Arrest by Fleeing.
West Plains Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of South Hill Street and Maple Street due to the vehicle displaying expired license plates. During the course of the traffic stop, it was learned the driver of the vehicle identified as 23 year old Jayson McDaniel of West Plains had a revoked driver’s license.
The officer also knew of pending charges against McDaniel for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Based on this information, the officer requested K9 Loki to respond to the traffic stop. A short time later, K9 Loki arrived and a free air sniff of the vehicle was conducted during which K9 Loki detected the presence of narcotics within the vehicle.
Based off K9 Loki’s detection of narcotics, a probable cause search was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in the finding and seizure of several items of drug paraphernalia. McDaniel was taken into custody and placed on a 24 hour hold for the pending drug charges and was additionally charged with Driving While Revoked, Fail to Display Current State License Plate, Fail to Provide Proof of Financial Responsibility and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
K9 Loki will be assigned to Cpl. Stewart until Officer Bradshaw Jr. is cleared to return to full active duty at which point K9 Loki will then be transferred back to Officer Bradshaw Jr.
