Alexandria – Yesterday morning shortly before 10:30 a.m. State Police K-9 Unit Dave Preston and his partner Colt were called to Alexandria to assist in the tracking of two theft suspects that had fled from police on foot. They started tracking from Richardson Gravel, the business the two had fled from around the 1300 block of W. 1st St.

The search led Preston and Colt through a wooded area, along a creek. Nearly a mile later the dog led Trooper Preston into a clearing to the steps of a small tree house. After shouting verbal commands, two suspects climbed down and were taken into custody by Madison County Captain John Owens, who accompanied Preston and Colt on the track.

Trooper Preston and Colt are one of four K-9 units at the Pendleton District. The dogs are trained and used in tracking suspects and missing persons, as well as conducting searches of buildings, cars and the detection of narcotics. Preston and Colt have been shift partners for just over five years.

For information on the captured suspects and their charges, please contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law