Police dog catches domestic violence suspect

December 14, 2005

A Petaluma Police Depart-ment dog tracked down a domestic violence suspect in the Petaluma hills on Saturday afternoon, said Sgt. Ken Savano.

Police received an emergency call at 11:43 a.m. from a Petaluma woman, 21, who claimed to have suffered from domestic violence Friday night at a residence on Ash Lane.

They found that she had been the victim of felony domestic violence, including battery, false imprisonment, criminal threats and damaged phone lines when she tried to call for help, Savano said.

Officers learned that the suspect, David Lyle McBride, 41, also of Petaluma, had fled from the house on foot. Police service dog "Max" and his handler, Officer Rick Cox, arrived at the scene, and a helicopter was called to provide aerial support.

Max began searching the area, and tracked down the suspect's path up a hill and through a grove of trees. The police dog found him hiding on the ground in debris, where he surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.

McBride was booked into Sonoma County Jail, and bail was set at $60,000.