CLENDENIN, W.Va. — A Kanawha County sheriff’s deputy and his K-9 tracked down an alleged robber for more than a mile in the Clendenin area Wednesday morning before finding the man and making an arrest.
Police received a call that a robbery had occurred at approximately 2 a.m. at the 7-Eleven on Spencer Road. A man wearing a hoodie with his face covered waved a knife and demanded money and cigarettes. He ran from the store.
Deputy Jamie Miller and his dog Max arrived on the scene along with a Clendenin police officer. Max picked up a scent for about an hour in sub-freezing temperatures and snow, according to Chief Deputy Mike Rutherford.
“They went down Spencer Road through Thorofare Road, several creeks and onto Leuven Lane,” Rutherford said.
Max took Deputy Miller to a residence there where they located Kajun Russell Cossin, 30, of Clendenin. They found clothes believed used in the robbery and several items taken, Rutherford said.
“They (the department’s K-9s) are excellent dogs. To track an individual for a mile and a half through creeks and down roadways is a very good situation,” Rutherford said.
Cossin was charged with first degree robbery. He’s being held in the South Central Regional Jail.