K-9 tracks down burglar in Athens

Press release

Henderson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Max and his Deputy Meagan Hogan tracked down a burglar after she fled from a home she was burglarizing near Lake Athens, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said Saturday.

“This is exactly what I expect from our two, new K-9 Deputies,” Hillhouse said. “They and their well-trained handlers have proven their worth dozens of times during their short time on the force.”

Dayna Edwards, 33, was confronted by a resident of the home in the 2200 block of Crystal Drive in Athens around 8 a.m.

She fled the scene before Deputies arrived, so K-9 Max was called in.

It took him about four minutes to find a beanie the suspect was wearing when she ran and another five minutes to find her hiding in a culvert on FM 2495 along with some items from the residence which was burglarized.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Devonte Meyers, 25, who was caught with items from the home which was burglarized.

Both suspects were taken to the Henderson County Jail and charged with burglary of a habitation.

Just over three month ago, Sheriff Hillhouse brought Canine Deputy Max and fellow Canine Deputy Kan on board his team.

The Belgium Malinois dogs from Bosnia cost the Office $10,000 each, but Hillhouse said no taxpayer money was used to pay for them or their ongoing training and upkeep.

“We are paying for this proven, new weapon with money seized during drug arrests,” he said. “And that is where the majority of their time is now spent – sniffing out contraband and putting drug pushers and users behind bars.”

Kan is handled by Deputy David Robertson, who joined Hogan at five-week training school at K9 Global Training Academy in Somerset, near San Antonio.

On their first day at work in Henderson County, a wanted woman was apprehended with the assistance of Deputy Kan after she escaped custody in a neighboring County.

“They have been on the job since Day One helping with automobile, home and in-person searches and, as in this case, tracking down and catching criminals who wrongly think they can outrun the law,” Hillhouse said.