Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Ross Litman
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 8, 2022
Media Contact: Lt. Jason Akerson
(218) 749-7176
Sheriff's Office welcomes new K-9 team, who debuts by successfully tracking a wanted felon
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office just welcomed a new K-9 to its team, and he's already proving his value, helping successfully track a man with a felony warrant for multiple terroristic threats.
K-9 Thor is a three-year-old Czech Shepherd who is partnered with Deputy Marty Thorne. The team just completed a 14-week training session in late June, and K-9 Thor is now certified as a dual-purpose K-9, meaning he is skilled at both narcotics detection and patrol duties such as finding people and evidence.
In just their second week on patrol together, Deputy Thorne and K-9 Thor were called last night to assist officers who were searching for a man with a felony warrant who'd fled on foot from police. Hibbing Police K-9 Chase had successfully tracked the suspect for quite a distance, but after awhile, as that team needed to rest, Deputy Thorne and K-9 Thor were able to take over. K-9 Thor followed down a gravel road and into a wooded area, leading directly to where the suspect was attempting to hide behind a log. The man surrendered without further incident and is currently in custody at the St. Louis County Jail.
"This was a great team effort by all involved," said Lt. Jason Akerson, who oversees the K-9 program for the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. "K-9s have the ability to help us do our jobs more efficiently and safely, and in this case, they were even able to help each other in a tag team effort, with the end result being a wanted felon is now in custody."
Deputy Thorne and K-9 Thor are based out of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office in Hibbing and will primarily serve the northern part of the County. The Sheriff's Office has three additional K-9s teams serving the county, and the addition of Thor brings the K-9 program back to full strength.
K-9 Thor's purchase and training costs were funded in part from the AMSOIL Northland K-9 Foundation.
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 Deputy Marty Thorne and K-9 Thor
 K-9 Thor is a Czech Shepherd who just joined the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
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