On 2/28/2021 Dep. Steven Sella and K-9 Copper from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office responded to a missing suicidal 14-year-old juvenile call. The subject had broken up with his girlfriend and had made suicidal comments on Instagram. 

The juvenile had been missing for 2 1/2 hours when Dep. Sella and K9 Copper arrived on the scene. 

A scent article had been collected by the investigating first responders. Dep. Sella used new scent collection techniques he learned during a recent Scent Evidence K9 scent discriminate and missing person training seminar in Lee County and utilized a gauze pad to absorb the odor from the article. It was then placed in a glass Scent Kit jar and heated up on the patrol car hood to increase the scent article's effectiveness. This was a more efficient way to carry the odor with them while searching for the juvenile.

The scent was provided to K-9 Copper who tracked over 3 miles through a busy highway and ended up going to the juvenile's home residence. It had been reported there were fort locations in the wooded areas surrounding the residence. Dep. Sella used K-9 Copper to check all of these locations, and it was evident the juvenile's odor was present due to his frequent visits to the forts, but it was not very strong. Dep. Sella was able to determine this from observing K-9 Copper's behavior.

Dep. Sella and K-9 Copper went back to the residence and began trying to check the area for any additional trails. It was reported that the stepfather had located the juvenile's bicycle at a nearby business by a canal. Dep. Sella used a direct swiping method to collect odor from the bicycle. K-9 Copper trailed from the bicycle to the girlfriend's residence which was the initial location he fled from.

There was an open window to the bedroom the girlfriend resided in. There was a pair of male shoes outside this window. The girlfriend stated she was not aware if he was in the residence but stated it was not normal for her window to be open. Deputies entered the room with permission and the missing juvenile was located under a bed with a knife. He had cut his wrist. He came out as directed and medical attention was provided. The juvenile was taken for treatment and further evaluation.

The efforts of Dep. Sella and K-9 Copper were vital in this case and potentially resulted in saving the life of the suicidal juvenile. 

Thanks to Dep. Sella and K-9 Copper for their commitment to creating a safer community and for Bringing The Lost Home safe! To learn more about scent discriminate K9 training visit ScentEvidenceK9.com #Bloodhound #K9Cop #BringingTheLostHome #ScentDiscriminateK9