Brunswick County K9 team recognized for tracking down missing hospital patient

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A Brunswick County sheriff’s deputy and his K9 partner are being recognized for tracking down an endangered patient who fled a local hospital over the weekend.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office honored Sgt. John Smith and K9 Tango for their work on Saturday, Aug. 8, after the patient ran from hospital security.

Sgt. Smith deployed Tango from the area where the patient was last seen. Tango picked up the scent, tracking the individual into the woods before continuing across a nearby field, showing signs that the missing person was close.

Deputies positioned along the perimeter located the patient directly ahead of the K9 team’s path.

“Sgt. Smith and K9 Tango’s scent discriminate training helped to place search resources in the right place to quickly locate the endangered patient,” Paul Coley, CEO of Scent Evidence K9, said in a statement.