Bloodhound finds teens suspected of vandalizing construction equipment

Three Bossier Parish teens face serious charges after police say they caused a quarter-of-a-million dollars worth of damage to construction equipment.

Bossier Parish investigators says when the owner of Red Chute Dirt Pit in Haughton got to work Monday morning, he found several of his heavy-moving equipment had been vandalized. The windows were broke out of two Caterpillar track hoes and one Caterpillar dozer, and all three of them were spray painted purple with graffiti. One of the track hoes, a Caterpillar 234D hydraulic excavator, was set on fire.

Detectives investigating the crime found shoe prints at the dirt pit. A K-9 bloodhound and his handler were brought to the scene to track the footprints. The K-9 team picked up a track from the three footprints that led them on a nearly one-mile trail through mud, creeks, open grassy fields, wooded areas and asphalt. About an hour later, the dog and his handler led investigators to a residence on Ginger Drive in Dogwood. A short time later, the team completed their track at another nearby house. Both homes were where the teenagers went after they left the dirt pit.

Investigators later determined the boys, two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old, had vandalized the equipment sometime late in the morning of Feb. 4. It had rained that morning, and although the track was two days old when the bloodhound picked it up late Monday morning, the K-9 team led investigators right to two residences. Muddy shoes were found at both homes.

Investigators would later determine the boys had vandalized the equipment sometime late in the morning of Feb. 4.It had rained that morning, and although the track was two days old when the bloodhound picked it up late Monday morning, the K-9 team led investigators right to two residences.Muddy shoes were found at both homes.

The teens were arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with simple arson, criminal property damage by graffiti, simple criminal property damage, theft, and trespassing. They were taken to the Ware Youth Detention Center in Coushatta for booking.

“Our K-9 team does a wonderful job training all year round in order to come out and perform their job as wonderfully as they did in this case,” said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen. “While some of our investigations may take days or longer, the bloodhound and his deputy handler were able to determine suspects after being on the case for about two hours and covering a one-mile track through mixed landscape. I couldn’t be more proud of the way they performed in helping to solve this case.”

The Bossier Sheriff’s Department K-9 team is comprised of four handlers who work with four bloodhounds, two narcotics dogs and one dual-purpose dog. The bloodhounds are primarily used to track humans and pick up a scent and follow it for hours due to their remarkable sense of smell. The bloodhound’s nose openings are larger than most other breeds. The large, long ears serve to prevent wind from scattering nearby skin cells while the dog’s nose is on the ground, and the folds of the wrinkled flesh under the lips and neck serve to catch stray scent particles.

Source: Sean Staggs, KSLA.com