Police K-9 Training, it can get difficult out there.
Things can get pretty wild out there on the streets for Police officers, K-9 handlers and their dogs. This story is a good example of how I guess they never know exactly who they are pulling over. Our own Sgt. Jerry Turning from our Sit Means Sit Central New Jersey location, and his 2 year old dog 'Franco' were actually involved in this bit of mayhem. Here is the article.
Car chase nabs wanted convict BY MICHELLE SAHN • MAY 2, 2008
TINTON FALLS — Patrolman Michael Delucia was on routine patrol when he spotted a aqua-colored Pontiac with a rejected inspection sticker on Route 33 Thursday afternoon, police said.
So the patrolman activated his lights and sirens and pulled the driver over. But when he made that stop, the patrolman did not know the driver had just been released from state prison in December, had also served time in federal prison for bank robbery and was wanted by federal authorities on an outstanding warrant.
The patrolman did not know the driver had a gun in the car and was wearing two sets of clothes, a skull cap with fake hair or pancake make-up, police said.
And he did not know that the driver planned to speed away as soon as he got out of his patrol car, authorities said. What began as a routine stop turned into a chase that involved two crashes and an attempted carjacking, police said. It ended on Jumping Brook Road in Tinton Falls, when police subdued the driver after he punched a police dog, swung at a police sergeant and tried to grab a patrolman's gun, authorities said.
Anthony E. Montgomery, 36, of Marsha Drive, Neptune, was charged Thursday afternoon with attempted carjacking, unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to have a weapon, possession of hollow point bullets, eluding, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer. Police said they suspect Montgomery was planning to commit a robbery, but was foiled when the patrolman pulled him over. "They did a nice job," said Capt. David Trevena. "They got a very dangerous person off the street."
Around 12:08 p.m., Patrolman Michael Delucia stopped the Grand Am Montgomery was driving on Route 33 east. But Montgomery then sped away, down Route 33 onto Jumping Brook Road and Route 66, said Trevena. That's when officers called off the pursuit, but they continued to follow the vehicle at a safe distance, he said. They lost sight of him, but then another motorist told them about an erratic driver who had just turned onto Asbury Avenue, the captain said. Police spotted the car near the reclamation center and began to pursue him again, Trevena said. At the intersection of Green Grove Road, Montgomery made a U-turn in the middle of the intersection and struck another vehicle, said the captain. That driver suffered a minor head injury and a baby in that vehicle was not hurt, he said. Meanwhile, Montgomery continued westbound on Asbury Avenue, then turned onto Essex Road, and then onto Jumping Brook Road, police said. He threw a gun out of the Pontiac, lost control of the car, hit a curb, traveled across the road, struck another curb and then hit trees, said Trevena. Police said they later determined that before they arrived at the scene, he tried to carjack two drivers, but both of those motorists drove off. When officers pulled up, Montgomery was trying to pull a man off of a motorcycle, police said.
Then he tried to run from the officers, but K9 Unit Sgt. Gerald Turning Jr. released his dog, Franco, said Trevena. Franco lunged at Montgomery, but he punched the dog, knocking the animal to the ground, the captain said. Turning drew his gun and told Montgomery to drop to the ground, but the Neptune man swung at the sergeant, police said. Delucia tackled the 36-year-old, and Montgomery grabbed for the patrolman's gun, but the dog then bit Montgomery, who continued to fight with the officers as they handcuffed him, said the captain. Montgomery was wearing pancake makeup and a skull cap with fake, long hair attached to the back, said Trevena. The Neptune man was wearing two pairs of pants, and a sweatshirt with another shirt underneath, police said. The license plates on the Grand Am had been stolen in Asbury Park, but one of the letters was altered with black electrical tape, police said. Police said they found a 9 mm loaded clip in the vehicle, and they found a 9 mm gun nearby. There was an active U.S. Marshals Service warrant for Montgomery's arrest. Montgomery was being held at the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $860,000 bail.
