Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: K-9 officers contribute to several recent felony arrests

On 10/20/04 at 10:20am officers of Texarkana Arkansas Police Department responded to the 1100 block of Locust Street in reference to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers observed two suspects running out of the front of the house. Officers gave chase while the suspects fled into a residential area nearby. Suspects were able to elude officers at that time. Officers established a perimeter and called for the assistance of Officer John Gibbert and his K9 partner Oran. Officer Gibbert and K-9 Oran located one of the suspects underneath a residence in the area. A 16 year-old black male of Texarkana, Arkansas was arrested and charged with felony burglary. The juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center where he is being held.

A warrant has been issued for a second suspect in this case.

On 10/21/04 at 3:42pm officers of Texarkana Arkansas Police Department responded to the 3600 block of East Street in reference to a burglary in progress. An 85 year-old female discovered a man in her residence while investigating a strange noise from another room. The victim realized that the man had entered the residence after breaking a window. The victim let her presence be known and immediately called 911. The man fled the house on foot before officers arrived. Officer Jody Stubbs and his K-9 partner Ronnie arrived on scene and immediately began tracking the suspect. K-9 Ronnie tracked the suspect through a wooded area, along a creek, and located him attempting to hide in a thicket a short distance from the residence. The suspect, 43 year-old Dorman Creel of Starks, Louisiana, was arrested on charges of felony burglary and is currently being held at Bi-State. No bond has been set at this time.

This makes the third successful criminal arrest utilizing K-9 officers in the past month. You may recall the press release issued on 9/30/04 involving the following:

On 09/30/04 at 1:43pm Texarkana Patrol Officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 2200 block of Division St. The owner of the home and a friend walked in on two young males when they arrived home from work. When the juveniles realized that the owner had entered the home they jumped out a window and fled. The owner gave chase and lost site of the juveniles in a nearby neighborhood area. Officers set up a perimeter and called for K-9 assistance. Officer Gibbert and K-9 Oran began to track at least one of the juveniles. K-9 Oran concluded his track at a storage building in the back yard of a residence. K-9 Oran was sent into the building and located the juvenile hiding under a shelf. The juvenile was arrested without conflict.

The 16 year-old was charged with Residential Burglary and transported to J.D.C.