Massachusetts State Police K9 tracks down suspect in woods wanted for strangling girlfriend

A K9 recently helped Massachusetts State Police capture a domestic violence suspect.

According to Massachusetts State Police, just after 6:15 p.m. Monday, Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit Trooper John Areche heard Holyoke Police Dispatch request K9 assistance to search for a domestic assault suspect who had fled from a residence on Kennedy Circle. Trooper Areche and his partner, Tucker, responded to the home within minutes and learned from Holyoke Officers that the suspect, a 33-year-old man had fled into the woods after reportedly strangling and threatening his girlfriend.

Holyoke Officers had last observed the suspect, known to them to have a violent background, standing by a tree in the wood line, just past a wooden bridge that spanned a small creek. The suspect then ran farther into the woods.

Trooper Areche and Tucker, accompanied by Holyoke Officers, began working at the point the suspect was last seen. Tucker quickly displayed recognition of a scent and began tracking into the woods. Tucker pulled east for about 50 feet, then turned left and tracked south deeper into the woods. After tracking south for about 200 feet, Tucker located the suspect in the woods, and Trooper Areche ordered that he surrender or face apprehension by the dog. The man quickly complied and was taken into custody by Holyoke Police.