K9 Police Dog’s Rapid Response: Convict Captured Just 5 Minutes After Prison Escape

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Ever wondered how dedicated and hardworking those furry K9 officers are?

They’re the unsung heroes of our law enforcement teams, always on the move to keep our streets safe.

Let’s talk about Yoda, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, who recently showed us just how incredible these dogs can be.

He didn’t just solve a high-profile crime; he made it look easy.

A High-Stakes Chase

Imagine the scene: Danelo Cavalcante, a convicted murderer, had broken out of a Pennsylvania prison and had been on the run for nearly two weeks.

The pressure was on for law enforcement, and people were getting anxious with no sight of him.

Then, Cavalcante managed to get his hands on a firearm, disappearing yet again.

But this is where our hero, Yoda, steps in.

Yoda isn’t your everyday dog; he’s part of a tactical unit with the El Paso Border Patrol Tactical Team, known as BORTAC.

These guys are the best of the best, and Yoda is no exception.

The Hunt Begins

The breakthrough came when a police aircraft picked up a heat signature around 1 am on September 13th.

Unfortunately, bad weather forced the team to hold off.

But later that day, Yoda and his handler got back in the game.

Yoda’s keen senses kicked in, and he tracked down Cavalcante, who was trying to crawl away to avoid capture.

During a press briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police couldn’t stress enough how crucial Yoda was in this operation.

Imagine the tension as Yoda zeroed in on Cavalcante, who was just an arm’s length away from a stolen rifle.

The Final Take Down

Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy US Marshal, shared with CNN just how essential Yoda was: “He was just essential as far as the tracking and searching, as were numerous other K9s that were here.”

You can picture the scene: Cavalcante, convicted of killing his girlfriend in 2021 and wanted for a 2017 homicide in Brazil, surrounded by over 20 officers.

And then, there’s Yoda, trained in the “bite and hold” technique. This means he’s trained to bite and hold a suspect until told to release.

Clark explained how Yoda bit Cavalcante on the scalp and then went for the lower extremities to keep him subdued.

Bivens added, “When the dog got to him, he went flat with the dog on him – the dog was able to detain him there. I was told the rifle was within arm’s length.”

A Job Well Done

Thanks to Yoda, it took only about five minutes from the time law enforcement made their approach to capturing Cavalcante.

Now, with Cavalcante back in a high-security facility, Yoda can enjoy some well-deserved rest.

Or maybe just get back to more training – these K9s never really stop.

Yoda is part of the BORTAC K9 unit, a group equivalent to a SWAT team.

According to a 2017 interview for Impact Dog Crates, these dogs are always training if they’re not out working.

The dog handler explained, “We deploy to different areas not easily accessible due to the harsh terrain. We focus on troubled high-risk areas where field patrol agents need assistance. We encounter drug smugglers, scouts, and RIP crews (armed bandits), which operate in our country.”

The Unsung Heroes

So, next time you think about law enforcement heroes, remember Yoda and his fellow K9 officers.

These dogs are out there, giving their all, making our communities safer.

They might be furry, but they’re fierce, and we owe them a lot of gratitude for their unwavering dedication.