Cavalcante, who escaped from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania about two weeks ago, was caught with no firearms fired, putting an end to a fortnight of concern among local people.
Cavalcante has been seen multiple times in the last week, and the 34-year-old took a gun from a neighboring property late Monday night. He was re-arrested with the firearm, according to reports.
Cavalcante was convicted last month of murdering his former lover, Deborah Brandao, and he is also wanted in a homicide case in Brazil from 2017. On August 31, he made news across the world by crab-walking upwards between two walls to escape.
According to CNN, the fugitive was asleep when police apprehended him at 8 a.m. When he awoke, he attempted to run by slithering through deep underbrush, which prompted the tactical teams on site to deploy four-year-old Belgian Malinois Yoda.
“He was just essential as far as tracking and searching, as were numerous other K-9s that were here,” said Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US Marshal for Pennsylvania’s eastern district.
“All of these K-9 resources were used by various tactical teams in the area, and they were simply incredible resources.”
Yoda is a “bite and hold” dog, which means he is particularly trained to hold down suspects until a handler commands him to let go. Yoda bit Cavalcante on the scalp before biting him again in the “lower extremity area” to keep him down in this situation.
“When the dog got to him, he then went flat with the dog on him; the dog was able to detain him there,” said Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police. The firearm was said to be within arm’s reach.”
Cavalcante continued to fight, but cops were able to move in securely and take him into custody without firing a shot because of Yoda’s actions.
“They don’t just keep biting and releasing or trying to cause additional injury,” Bivens said of the K-9 dogs.
“They simply grab onto someone and try to hold them in place until officers arrive.” There are cops nearby who can then move in, and the handler may immediately remove the dog. Officers will then take control from there.”
I believe Chester County residents will sleep better tonight! What a hero this dog, and all the other courageous K-9s out there, are! If you like this post, you should see the pit bull who was saved from a dog fighting ring and became a K-9 police dog!
