A Garland Police Department K9 officer on patrol heard gunshots, setting off a chain of events that ended with a disabled getaway car, an AR-15-style rifle recovered inside, and two people under arrest. Dispatchers were simultaneously fielding calls from residents who reported hearing gunfire, according to the department.
Garland’s K-9 unit dates to 1986, when it was formed to help prevent building burglaries. The department describes canine teams as a search tool used to assist officers in investigating criminal activity, with handlers and dogs completing a 12- to 14-week training program together. The unit’s broader role helps explain why a K-9 officer may be patrolling beyond a specific search assignment: Garland’s K-9 teams assist in criminal investigations across the city.
Gunfire Reports Prompt Police Response
According to a Garland Police Department Facebook post, the K9 officer requested additional officers to respond after hearing the shots. Around the same time, a caller who contacted dispatch provided a description of a vehicle believed to be involved in the gunfire, giving officers something concrete to search for as they responded.
Officers soon located a vehicle matching that description, the post states. When they attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to pull over and instead led officers on a vehicle pursuit, escalating what had started as a report of gunshots into an active chase.
Pursuit Ends, Rifle Found Inside Vehicle
The chase ended when the suspect vehicle became disabled. Officers who approached the car reported finding an AR-15-style rifle along with several spent shell casings inside, evidence that lined up with the gunfire reports that had prompted the search in the first place…