K-9 Gunner tracked and apprehended a fleeing 42-year-old Maryland man after a breaking and entering that occurred in North Stafford.

On October 13th at approximately 12:06 a.m. deputies responded to Paradise Court for a possible domestic. A neighbor could hear screaming from a trailer. Deputy R.T. Philippsen was first to arrive and would hear a scream coming from the rear of the trailer in question. Using a window Deputy Philippsen observed a female in distress and a male. The male would jump out the window and flee into the woods.

Deputy M.N. Sayegh would make contact with the victim to discover what occurred as additional deputies quickly established a perimeter. It was advised a family member of the victim unlawfully entered her residence in an intoxicated state. The victim attempted to flee the suspect by hiding in the bathroom and attempted to call 911. Instead, the suspect followed her, locked himself in the bathroom with her, broke her phone to prevent her from calling for help, and assaulted her with part of the window frame. The assault only ended when Deputy Philippsen arrived and the suspect jumped out the window.

Deputy R.L. Hubbard would respond and launch one of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office’s drones. As she did so, Deputy S.T. Myers would also respond with his K-9 partner, Gunner. Using the drone, Deputy Hubbard observed a heat signature in the woods. As Deputy Myers and Deputy Philippsen headed towards it, Gunner displayed signs of a positive track and continued deeper into the woods.

Deputy Myers and Deputy Philippsen would observe the suspect hiding in the woods. When they announced their presence, the suspect began fleeing. Due to the seriousness of the crimes, Gunner was released and completed an apprehension. The suspect quickly gave up after that and was taken into custody.

The suspect, Mario Ortiz-Escobar of Silver Spring, was treated for the K-9 bite at a local hospital. He was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, felonious assault, assault and battery, destruction of property, preventing a call to 911, abduction, public intoxication, and fleeing law enforcement. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.