Heart-stopping helicopter footage shows brave K9 taking down suspect wanted for a machete attack
Many of us grew up hearing incredible stories of mobsters and bank robbers like Al Capone, John Dillinger, or Bonnie and Clyde.
These stories of life on the run often make it seem thrilling or even glamourous, but today such a life is hardly possible.
Thanks to modern technology, the world we live in is much safer than ever before. When it comes to crime, police can respond faster, gather more information, and catch suspects with incredible speed.
Running from the police has always been a poor choice.
But now with modern officer training, police K9s and helicopters armed with Infrared cameras, getting away is nearly impossible.
That doesn’t stop people from trying though. A man in Pennsylvania recently set an example for anyone thinking they could outrun the cops.
This video from Martin County police captured most of the event through infrared, or IR imaging cameras mounted on the police helicopter. The video begins with a shot of the green woods where the man was hiding.
Allegedly, Johhny Ray Smith, a 51-year-old from the area, had slashed someone with a machete and fled on foot.
While the man who was attacked was getting treated for the laceration in his arm, a police squad was dispatched to apprehend Mr. Smith.
The video then switches to IR, which perceives temperature instead of color.
You can then see the people below the tree cover.
The helicopter moves to get a better view, and the camera zooms in. The man can be seen darting through the woods, with police and their K9 in hot pursuit.
After a few seconds, the police can be seen releasing the quick and nimble K9, who immediately catches up to the fleeing suspect and overtakes him.
It’s amazing to watch through the trees from a birds-eye view.
When the human officers catch up, the dog releases and they surround the suspect.
He is then cuffed and the video concludes with a shot of him being walked out of the woods by the police.
Johnny Ray Smith, 51, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, and giving a false name to law enforcement.
On the ground, it was deputy Ryan Pearlman and K-9, Nero, who were sent to track Smith. Nero is a 2-year-old Czech German Shepherd who has completed over 600 hours of patrol and narcotics detection training with deputy Corporal Bryan Parrett.
Nero, Parrett’s second K9 partner, lives with the corporal’s family in Port St. Lucie.
“He’s a big bad police dog, but only when he needs to be,” said Parrett.
The suspect remained at the Martin County Jail without bail, corrections officials said.
This story should stand as an example of the power of modern technology in general, as well as deter people from ever running from police.
Anyone who has heard the glamourized crime stories of years past should also be aware that you can’t outrun the law forever, and in the case of Johhny Smith, that time was only a few minutes.
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