K9 competition in East Texas helps locate man evading arrest nearby, police say

Nayeli Carrillo
·1 min read
8

TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK) – A Texarkana man was arrested on Monday after reportedly running from a police officer and getting found by a K9 participating in Region 20 United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) trials nearby.

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<em>Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden David McMillen and his K9 partner Jake, courtesy of Texarkana Police Department.</em>
Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden David McMillen and his K9 partner Jake, courtesy of Texarkana Police Department.

The Texarkana Police Department said Officer Jordan Starkey noticed that an individual walking along South Lake Drive had a felony warrant. When the officer turned back to speak to him, the man reportedly “took off running and quickly disappeared.”

Just about five minutes from where the man took off running, 25 police K9 teams were competing in Region 20 USPCA trials at Grady T. Wallace Park, the police department said.

“Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden David McMillen and his K9 partner Jake offered to go there to help,” Texarkana PD said. “It didn’t take long at all. After a quick three minute track, Jake found him trying to hide under a pile of brush about 300 yards from where Starkey had last seen him.”

<em>Mugshot of Cody Dillard, courtesy of Bowie County Jail.</em>
Mugshot of Cody Dillard, courtesy of Bowie County Jail.

According to jail records, Cody Dillard, 27 of Texarkana, was arrested for his active warrants and evading arrest and booked into the Bi-State Jail.

“Hopefully, he’ll think twice before he tries something like this again – or at least make sure there’s not some of the best K9 teams in the region competing just up the road,” the police department said.

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