K9 Officer Tracks Down Endangered Man

ROUND LAKE, IL — Two Lake County Sheriff's Office K9 officers are credited with helping police track down a suspect and assist a different man in crisis during two separate calls in recent days. During the most recent call K9 officer Diesel, along with his human partner, Lake County Sheriff's Office Deputy Craig Somerville, responded to the area of 35300 North Nielson Road in unincorporated Round Lake at about 12:20 p.m. Tuesday.

At that location, a 36-year-old man, who was reportedly having a mental crisis and attempted to harm himself, jumped from a bedroom window and fled on foot, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

K9 Diesel was able to quickly find the man near West Oak Street and North Neilson Drive, authorities said. He was transported to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Just 14 hours earlier, at around 10:20 p.m. on July 22, Lake County Sheriff’s K9 officer Duke and Deputy Dwight were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Sheridan Road in Lake Bluff to help Lake Bluff Police find a man who fled on foot from a domestic battery, according to a news release.

Arrowood and K9 Duke were able to quickly find the man hiding near the home under a tree, covered in brush, police said. The man was taken into custody by Lake Bluff Police and the incident remains under investigation.

“I am very proud of Deputies Somerville and Arrowood, as well as their Canine Partners," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said. "In just 14 hours, your Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Teams located a man in mental crisis and a person wanted for domestic battery. Our four Canine Teams are a tremendous asset to the Lake County Community.”