LEVY COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Levy County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dowling and his K-9 Ellzey played principal roles in the apprehension of a fugitive wanted on multiple warrants last Friday.
According to a report by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Dowling was off duty when he observed Jonah Smith (age not provided), a known fugitive, riding a bicycle in the area of the Oak Ridge Estates subdivision. He coordinated with on-duty Deputy Kyle Schultz to attempt contact.
Deputy Dowling attempted to make contact with Smith, who immediately fled. Deputy Dowling gave chase but lost Smith in a heavily wooded area.
Additional resources were called in to establish a perimeter and continue the search for Smith. At the request of on-scene law enforcement, Deputy Dowling deployed K-9 Ellzey to assist in the search. Ellzey tracked and located Smith, who was still in the area and attempting to conceal himself, despite dangerously high heat indexes and difficult terrain.
“Smith was arrested on his active warrants, which included two counts of Sale of Methamphetamine, two counts of Possession of Drug Equipment Manufacture/Deliver, and a Violation of Probation associated with Fleeing/Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer with Lights and Siren Activated, Failure to Register a Motor Vehicle, and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid Driver’s License. Smith was also charged with Resisting an Officer Without Violence,” read an announcement. “Smith was transported to the Levy County Jail, where he was booked on the active warrants and the new charge of Resisting an Officer Without Violence. His total bond was set at $275,000.”