K9 Axel Tracks Intoxicated Man Fleeing From Long Grove Traffic Crash
LONG GROVE, IL — An intoxicated man, who fled the scene of a traffic crash on foot Wednesday, was eventually tracked down by local law enforcement and one of the Lake County Sheriff Office’s canines. K9 Axel is being credited for obtaining the scent of the man nearly two miles from the crash.
Yiyari C. Salvador, 26, of the 200 block of Marlene Court, Wauconda, is being charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting a peace officer, and leaving the scene of a crash. He is due back in court on Sept. 25.
Police reported to a traffic crash Wednesday at Route 22 and Old McHenry Road for a traffic crash. A 911 caller said a man had rear-ended his car and then fled on foot. He was able to provide a description of the man, later identified as Salvador, which was given to responding deputies, who arrived and established a perimeter.
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Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Gauer and K9 Axel responded to the scene. K9 Axel obtained the scent of Salvador and immediately began tracking. K9 Axel tracked nearly two miles, into the Heron Creek Forest Preserve. Emergency telecommunicators informed Lake County Forest Preserve Rangers of the situation.
Salvador was eventually located next to a forest preserve trail by a sheriff’s deputy and forest preserve ranger. He was taken into custody without incident. Police said no one was injured in the traffic crash.
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“This is yet another great example of collaboration between sheriff’s employees and outside agencies,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. “Our 911 emergency telecommunicators obtained and relayed critical information to sheriff’s deputies and forest preserve rangers in the field. From there, our deputies established a perimeter, and a sheriff’s canine successfully tracked the suspect to an awaiting sheriff’s deputy and forest preserve ranger.”
K9 Axel joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in March 2022, along with K9 Echo. Police held a naming contest for local students, and nearly 400 kids submitted their preferred name for the canines.
A Deerfield High School student and two Vernon Hills Hawthorn Middle School sixth-graders named Axel. A swearing-in ceremony followed in late June after the completion of initial training for Axel with Gauer.
“We always enjoy getting the youth involved in various aspects of our office and I have to say, the names they submitted were terrific,” Idelberg said at the time. “Some of the submissions had inspiring meaning behind the names, and some of the submissions had us chuckling.”
RELATED: Meet Axel — Deerfield High Student Names Newest Police K-9
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