Sheriff K9 team locates and apprehends two wanted in vehicle theft and pursuit

Shevlin Township, Shevlin, MN: On August 11, 2019, a Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office K9 team assisted the Minnesota State Patrol and the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office in the apprehension of two individuals that fled the Trooper and Clearwater Deputies in a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was originally reported stolen from the Red Lake Falls, MN area and located by the MN State Patrol Trooper. A pursuit ensued and the stolen vehicle was successfully stopped after the use of a tire deflation device near Shevlin, MN on US highway 2.

Near the Beltrami County/Clearwater County line the vehicle became disabled and two male occupants fled the vehicle on foot into the adjacent woods. The Beltrami and Clearwater County line is located approximately 16 miles west of Bemidji, MN.

The Trooper and assisting Officers established a perimeter and call for K9 assistance from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office was made. Beltrami County Deputy Kyle Nohre and his K9 partner Mac responded to the scene and began to track the suspects. After a 2 mile long track consisting of heavily wooded areas, fields and trails K9 Mac began alerting to finding the suspects and led Deputy Nohre towards an enclosed, elevated deer stand about 75 yards away.

After getting to the deer stand and giving apprehension warnings to the suspects they still did not give themselves up until Deputy Nohre was able to open the door to the stand. A male suspect from Gallitin, TN and a male suspect from Miami, FL were then taken into custody without incident.

Deputy Nohre and K9 Mac are certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) as a Police Utility Dog team as well as a narcotic detection team. Mac and Deputy Nohre are trained and certified through NAPWDA in human tracking, article searches, building searches, area searches and criminal apprehension. Deputy Nohre and K9 Mac have been working together for approximately 3 years.

This is another proud example of the capabilities of highly trained K9 team and collaborative efforts of the Minnesota State Patrol, Bagley Police Department, White Earth Police Department and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.

Ernie Beitel, Sheriff Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office