Marion County's newest police dog did it again.
Rolo, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois just on the job this year, has had a string of captures in the past three months. He
in a strip bar brawl crouching in tall grass, discovered a
hiding in a yard and
after a high-speed chase to a cave in the mountains.
This time his keen nose led him across a river and county lines.
It all started on Monday with late-night attempted burglary at a home in the small town of Idanha in Marion County. About 11:30 p.m., a homeowner called 9-1-1, saying a man had broken into his house in the
. The victim said the suspect, who appeared to be intoxicated, attacked him and tried to strangle him. The suspect tried to steal prescription medications but the victim got him out of the house. Witnesses saw the suspect fleeing towards Oregon 22, a few blocks from the home.
Several Marion County deputies were dispatched to the scene, including Deputy Jason Bernards and Rolo. Bernards, with eight years experience under his belt, got Rolo out of the car and gave him the order to track. The dog pretty quickly picked up on the suspect's scent. Bernards said it was probably a mix of alcohol and fear. The latter is known as the "fear scent."
"When people run from police, they give off more scent," Bernards says. "This guy probably knew police were called. Rolo just keyed in on that."
Attached to a 15-foot lead, Rolo led Bernards and a pack of other deputies to the Santiam River, over a bridge, to Linn County. Rolo gets excited when he picks up a heavy whiff of scent and starts yanking on the lead. Bernards forces the dog to walk.
"We try not to run for safety reasons," Bernards said.
The dog walked along the road, through a field where he got excited.
"When he gets into heavy scent, he starts grunting," Bernards said.
Waylon Blanchette
The dog led deputies to a house in 300 block of Blossom Avenue. Linn County Sheriff's deputies, who arrived on scene, knew the occupant: 33-year-old Waylon Clayton Blanchette, a convicted felon. The deputies also knew what Blanchette looked like and it matched the description of the subject.
Bernards said he pounded on the door and made his usual announcement.
"Sheriff's office. Canine unit. You need to come out with your hands up. If you don't, we'll send the dog and he'll find you and you could be bit."
He repeated it three times.
Blanchette, who was passed out, woke up and raised his hands. He was taken into custody and booked into Marion County Jail on suspicion of burglary, assault and strangulation. He is being held without bail on a parole violation.
As for Rolo, he ended the night with a double cheeseburger from McDonald's.
"He gets a McDouble every time he finds someone," Bernards said.
Are they good for him?
"Probably not, but he likes them," Bernards said.
-- Lynne Terry