K-9 Officer Finds Fugitive Hiding Under Bed In Aurora Home: Cops

AURORA, IL — An Aurora officer is receiving special praise after he followed a fugitive into a home, tracked him to where he was hiding under a bed, and bit his ankle, leading to his arrest. The brave officer is Kato, a K-9 who, along with his handler and other members of the Aurora Police Department, pursued Guillermo M. Velazquez, 27, of West Chicago, after he was allegedly caught driving a stolen car Wednesday.

Police say they spotted Velazquez in the car near the intersection of Fifth and Ashland at around 7:30 a.m. An officer then told Velazquez to get out of the car and attempted to place him under arrest. Valezquez then fought with officers, police say, and fled north on Fifth by foot before turning west near the 900 block of Lafayette.

There, Velazquez allegedly ducked into a "random" residence occupied by a 30-year-old Aurora man and tried to hide under the bed, police say.

After warning Velazquez to surrender, officers released Kato, who "immediately found Velazquez under a bed and bit him," according to police. Other officers were then able to get ahold of Velazquez, but he allegedly kicked an officer in the chest in an attempt to resist arrest.

Velazquez was taken to a nearby hospital, treated for the bite wound, and released. He has been charged with felony counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, criminal trespass to a residence, and resisting police.

Images via Aurora Police Department