K9 Cop Finds DUI Suspect In The Woods

ORLAND PARK, IL — A K9 police officer is credited with finding a DUI suspect police say fled a traffic stop and ran into the woods after his car ended up in a ditch on Southwest Highway last week. Orland Park police are lauding the quick efforts of Maverick, the K9 who partners with Officer Zumerling.

A Honda Odyssey police say was driven by Francisco Brito, 42, of Chicago was stopped near 135th and Southwest Highway in Orland Park at 7:53 p.m. on Nov. 2, according to Orland Park police. The officer in a police report said that Brito drove over a curb on Southwest Highway and around signs that said "road closed" before he came to a stop. The car was also spotted speeding through standing water before it stopped, police said.

During the stop, police say Brito had an odor of alcohol coming from his breath as well as bloodshot glassy eyes and slurred speech. A pack of Miller Lite beer cans was spotted on the passenger seat of the car with opened beer cans next to it, police said.

As the officer on the scene told Brito to remain in the car as he returned to his squad car to call for backup, police say Brito took off and headed north toward Palos Park.

About five minutes later, police said someone called about a car that had just been driven into a ditch near 123rd and Southwest Highway in Palos Park and a witness at the scene said the driver first knocked on his window then ran eastbound into a wooded area off Southwest Highway.

Police in Orland Park and Palos Park called for the help of a K9, and Maverick found Brito about 200 yards into the woods around 8:41 p.m., according to police. A supplemental police report indicates a gym shoe was used as a scent object that helped Maverick find Brito.

Brito was charged with felony aggravated DUI and three misdemeanors: fleeing & eluding, obstructing ID and DUI. He also faces several petty offenses not considered felonies or misdemeanors.