Occurred on 1/22/12, 6:21 p.m.   Burglary to a Vehicle   6649 Seacomber Drive     1201220123  

Officers responded to an isolated marshy area and contacted the victim who had been enjoying the afternoon fishing.  The 23-year-old victim reported his silver Ford pick-up truck was burglarized and the stolen items were inside a blue Chevrolet Suburban parked next to him.

The victim told Officers the suspect had smashed out a window and stolen his binoculars, a wallet, along with a Leatherman hand tool.  It was unknown where the suspect had fled.

Due to the terrain and oncoming nightfall, Senior Officers L. Priess and J. Lavistada along with their K-9 partners were asked to assist in finding the suspect.  Kimbo and LaRoy detected a scent and tracked it straight to the suspect who was hiding in the thick brush.

Joe Earle Huffman (12/02/47) was arrested and charged with Burglary of a Motor Vehicle.  The stolen property valued at $1,100 was returned to the victim.

Commander S. Escalante told reporters the Patrol dogs are an excellent tool and did a tremendous job in tracking a suspect who otherwise wouldn’t have been located.