Newest member of K-9 unit helps make drug arrest

With a little help from Jill, the Houston County Sheriff’s newest K-9, deputies were able to take $37,500 worth of cocaine off the streets this week.

Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes and Deputy Chad Wilson introduced Jill on Thursday afternoon as Hughes talked about the drug trafficking arrest made possible with her help. Hughes said deputies seized about 13.5 ounces of cocaine after Jill alerted to the vehicle driven by Terrance Franklin Davis. Hughes said the drugs had an estimated value of about $37,500.

Hughes said the drugs were found after a deputy stopped a gold two-door Chevrolet, driven by Davis, for speeding around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 84 East near Houston County Road 81. He said Jill and her handler, Wilson, arrived at the traffic stop after the driver refused to allow deputies to search his car. He said deputies also seized a .40-caliber handgun, along with the drugs, during the arrest.

Court records show Davis, 31, of Green Frog Road, was being held at the Houston County Jail on a $500,000 bond. If convicted of the class A felony trafficking cocaine, Davis faces 10 to 99 year or life in prison.

Hughes and Wilson declined to say how Jill specifically alerted to the drugs inside the vehicle, but Wilson said she generally has a “passive” alert that includes either sitting, laying down or starring.

“We didn’t have any dogs when I came into office, and now we have four,” Hughes said. “We pretty much have a dog out 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Hughes said the department has another drug dog, along with two bloodhounds specifically used for tracking fugitives, lost Alzheimer’s patients and missing children.

Money from other drug and cash seizures and from the Houston County District Attorney’s Office paid for the new dog, Hughes said. He said other money within the department can also be made available to help pay for a dog, including the commissary funds at the county jail and pistol permit money.

“It’s going to aid me in getting probable cause to search a vehicle, and it’s going to aid us in a more successful prosecution,” Hughes said of having a drug dog.

Wilson said Jill, a Dutch Shepherd, just turned 2 years old last month. Hughes chose Wilson to fill the role of the department’s fourth K-9 handler in part because of his six years experience as a K-9 handler.

“You’ve got to have a deputy who is proactive,” Hughes said. “You’ve got to be very dedicated. You’ve got to socialize with the dog, and there has to be a bond between the dog and the handler.”

Wilson said he last served as a K-9 officer for six years with the Hartford Police Department.

“They pretty much become our partner,” Wilson said. “You can call on her pretty much 24 hours a day. Sometimes it’s like having another child. You have to feed them, bath them and take them to the doctor. You have to play with them, you know fetch, just letting them run around and taking her swimming.”