Nov. 21--CHAPEL HILL -- Police arrested a Durham teenager early Tuesday when a police dog tracked him through the woods after the teen allegedly robbed a pizza deliveryman.
The K-9's task was likely made a bit easier by the fact the alleged thief took not only $45 in cash but $55 in freshly cooked pizza and only ran a block away before meeting up with others.
"The officer probably could have smelled it," said Sgt. Josh Mecimore of the Chapel Hill Police Department about the pizza.
The incident began when a pizza deliveryman called 911 to report he had just been robbed by a man as he was delivering pizza on Creel Street. When police arrived, the deliveryman told them the man had shown a small black handgun, Mecimore said.
Officer D. Funk and his K-9, MJ, began a track and followed it through the woods to 120 Johnson St., the next street over from Creel Street.
The dog led Funk to a group of people, and police were able to identify one as the person suspected of robbing the deliveryman, Mecimore said.
Police charged William Horton, 18, of 5529 Sunlight Dr., #104, Durham, with robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of stolen goods in Chapel Hill and obtaining property by false pretense in Durham, a police report stated.
Horton was transported to the Orange County Jail, where a magistrate set his bond at $5,000 secured.
Police also charged Markus Antonio Laws, 25, of 105 Johnson St., A, Chapel Hill, who was with the group, with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine after he allegedly possessed .10 grams of crack cocaine and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Police transported Laws to the Orange County Jail, where a magistrate set his bond at $5,000 secured.
Copyright 2012 - The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.
