For the second time in less than a month, a Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Team located and saved a person in mental distress.

On September 17, 2017 at approximately 1:40AM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence in the 10800 block of West Fairbanks Drive in Beach Park for a report of a missing person.  Sheriff’s Deputies learned the missing 41-year old man walked away from his residence, only wearing underwear.  According to family members, he was in mental distress and intoxicated.  The responding Sheriff’s Deputies requested the assistance of Deputy John Forlenza and K-9 Dax to help locate the man.

The K-9 Team arrived on scene and immediately started tracking the scent of the missing man.  After tracking for approximately a quarter-mile, Dax located the man in a ditch.  The man was lying face-down in the ditch, covered in mud and heavy brush.  He was initially unresponsive but was eventually able to walk to the roadway, where an ambulance was waiting.  The man was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.  

Sheriff Mark Curran said, “Time and time again our Canine Teams prove to be a valuable asset to the people of Lake County.  They’ve located many missing people throughout Lake County, including those in distress and those fleeing crime scenes.  I am very proud of Deputy Forlenza and his four-legged partner, Dax, for locating and saving the life of a second person in less than a month!”