K-9s Help Track Down Armed Suspect In Chester County: Cops

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — K-9s helped police track down and capture an armed suspect during a foot chase in Chester County recently.

The incident occurred on Dowlin Forge Lane in Uwchlan Township at around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

It began when a woman saw two men trying to break into her home through a window on a live security camera.

When police arrived at the scene, the pair fled on foot through a wooded area, coming out on a street in the Tall Trees Development, police said.

That's when additional officers arrived, including K-9 units, to assist in the chase.

The pursuit continued into a nearby creek, where one of the men was ultimately captured, police said. He had a loaded firearm on him when he was arrested, according to authorities.

"Significant efforts" were made by law enforcement to capture the second suspect. Two schools in the Downingtown Area School District were locked down, a police notified residents of the situation with a reverse 911 call.

However, the man has not been found, nor been positively identified, police said. If you saw anything suspicious in the area during the time of this incident, contact Detective Sergeant W.T. Fortmann at 610-363-6947.

Law enforcement noted the importance of collaboration between departments in the capture of the first suspect. Uwchlan Township Police were assisted by officers from West Pikeland, Upper Uwchlan, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Chester County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit.