12-Hour Search In Tolland Ends With Police Dog Finding Suspect: Cops

TOLLAND, CT — A 50-year-old Iowa man who eluded authorities for about 12 hours after crashing a car on Interstate 84 in Tolland spent Wednesday night in jail and is now facing nine criminal charges after being corralled by a police dog, a report from state police indicates.

State police released details of the manhunt Thursday morning.

Charles Hydrick, of Mason City, IA, was charged at the Troop C barracks with:

• Interfering with police
• Larceny of a motor vehicle
• Second-degree criminal trespass
• Second-degree breach of peace
• Reckless use of a highway by pedestrian
• First-degree criminal trover
• Failure to drive in the proper lane
• Evasion of responsibility in operation of a motor vehicle
• Driving without a license

The crash occurred at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday. According to a state police accident report, Hydrick was in a stolen 2010 Infinity EX35, traveling west on I-84, about a half mile shy of Exit 68. He suddenly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the center median, according to a crash report. The car was bearing registration plates out of North Carolina, state police said.

Hydrick then exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, crossing the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 in the process, according to a crash report. State police then set up a perimeter in the area and police dog Drago was called in to track him.

Throughout the course of about 12 hours, Hydrick eluded law enforcement personnel that included the State Police Drone Unit, the State Police Air Wing, and a search-and-rescue canine team. The search extended to the area of Tolland Stage Road and the Tolland Green, and caused Tolland Intermediate School to be placed in lockdown mode, authorities said.

At 3:12 p.m. Wednesday, Hydrick was located by Drago in a wooded area and was taken into custody, according to a state police report.

Hydrick was held overnight on a $200,000 bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday.