On December 2, 2018, at approximately 2:30AM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 21600 block of West Grass Lake Road, Antioch Township, for a 32-year-old woman in mental distress.  While Sheriff’s Deputies were en-route to the residence, the 911 caller indicated the woman made threats of self-harm then fled on foot from the residence.

Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the residence and began searching for the woman.  Deputy John Forlenza and his canine partner, Dax, also responded.  Weather conditions were poor at the time, as it was cold, foggy, and raining.  Deputy Forlenza and K9 Dax conducted a track for the missing woman.  Based on K9 Dax’s behavior, it appeared the woman was moving to different locations to avoid being located.  

After approximately one hour of tracking the woman, K9 Dax located her walking on Grass Lake Road.  An ambulance was requested, and the woman was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Sheriff John Idleburg said, “Our Canine Teams have a tremendous record of locating missing people and fleeing offenders.  We are very proud of Deputy Forlenza and Canine Dax for quickly locating this person who was in distress.”