Determined dog leads Kansas officer to suspect ‘face down in mud’ and starts licking

When Kansas game wardens were asked to help find a suspect wanted by a local police department, a K-9 and her handler teamed up to track him down.

Ruby the K-9, at almost 10 years old, joined handler Chris Stout at Wellington City Lake in their search on Oct. 8, according to a Monday afternoon Facebook post by Kansas Wildlife & Parks - Game Wardens. That’s where the suspect — wanted in connection to an outstanding felony warrant with Wellington Police Department — was last seen.

“K-9 Ruby immediately picked up the track and the K-9 duo ran through deep mud following the track,” the post says. “The track then turned into waist high Bind Weed and other vegetation, which made it very difficult for K-9 Ruby to pull the leash.”

Because it was hard for Ruby to guide her handler through “heavy vegetation,” wardens say her lead was removed, allowing her to move more effectively.

“K-9 Ruby again put her nose down and led the K-9 duo deeper into the brush, which turned into saplings that were about 10 feet high,” the post says.

As she moved through the wooded lakeside, wardens say she found the suspect “face down in mud under dense brush.” She then stood on top of the man and licked him as Stout caught up.

The wildlife officer ordered the man to “show his hands” and was then handcuffed, officials say. Stout then helped the suspect up before walking him back to where their search began.

There, they were met by four officers who took the suspect into custody and booked him into the Sumner County Jail.

As for Ruby? She was rewarded for her determination and got to take a dip in the lake.

This story was originally published October 18, 2021 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Determined dog leads Kansas officer to suspect ‘face down in mud’ and starts licking."