Police dog gets 'round of a-paws' after helping officers with several West Sussex incidents
Isla assisted with three separate incidents within seven days
A police dog has been given a 'round of a-paws' after winning three consecutive games of hide-and-seek with suspected criminals.
There have been three separate incidents within seven days where four year-old German Shepherd Isla successfully tracked people who had run from police.
At around 2.45am on Wednesday (4 November), officers on patrol in Bognor Regis spotted a vehicle of interest.
It was pursued for a short while before it came to a stop in Clun Road.
One of the three occupants ran from the car and into an industrial estate, where he tripped and fell.
Sussex Police has said he was located by Isla, at which point he reached into his waistband.
The force said that "fearing it could be a weapon", Isla detained the suspect by biting until officers arrived to arrest him.
The remaining two suspects were also arrested and taken into custody.
A subsequent search of the scene and of all three suspects revealed a quantity of suspected drugs.
A 27 year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.
Meanwhile a 49 year-old man from Littlehampton was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and a 26 year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
All three have been released under investigation, pending further enquiries.
Police then responded to a report of a stolen motorcycle in Wick on Monday morning (9 November).
Officers found the vehicle and pursued it to Joyce Close, where a containment of the area was put on.
Sussex Police said the rider had discarded the bike and a yellow helmet, and a man matching the same description was seen by people garden hopping.
Isla was once again deployed and tracked the suspect through several gardens and streets, eventually finding him hiding at the back of an open storage shed.
A 37 year-old man from Wick was arrested on suspicion of theft from a vehicle, dangerous driving, resisting police in the execution of their duty, driving while disqualified, affray, driving while unfit through drugs and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
He has been released under investigation, pending further enquiries.
Then late in the evening on Wednesday (11 November), police on patrol in Bognor Regis identified a vehicle of interest, which reportedly "made off at speed".
The vehicle pulled over in Hoe Lane, Flansham, and Isla found the suspect hiding in undergrowth south of the A259.
Jake McConnell, aged 24, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with drink-driving, driving without due care and attention, and failing to stop when required by police.
He has been released on unconditional bail until 2 March, when he is due to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court.
Isla’s handler, PC Kris Drake, of the Surrey and Sussex Police Dog Unit, said:
"Isla is a very chilled out dog at home.
"But when tasked to work in her roles as a general purpose dog and a firearms support dog, she’s very switched on.
"She relishes the challenge and is rewarded with her favourite treats.
"She is an asset to our force."