Sheriff's K9 track leads to arrest, recovery of stolen property in Rockingham County, NC

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NC – Sunday, Rockingham County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a reported theft of lawn equipment from an outbuilding located at 2514 N.C. 135 in Stoneville, North Carolina.

The homeowner had spotted the suspect fleeing from the area with his stolen property, so Deputy Chuck Jordan and his K9 Bloodhound partner "Blue" were called in to attempt to track the suspect. Meanwhile, a male matching the suspect's description was located walking on the side of the roadway nearby, but did not have any items from the victim's outbuilding in his possession. The suspect, later identified as Kevin Hardy Smith, 32, of 302 Victor Street in Eden, N.C., told Deputies he was walking to the Mayodan Walmart. Blue tracked from the outbuilding to the suspect's location, then tracked to the stolen items located about 15 yards away from where the suspect was located in a wooded area.

The stolen items, a STIHL weedeater and two STIHL Leaf Blowers, were recovered and returned to the owner. Boot prints found at the scene and in the area of the K9 track appeared to be an exact match to the tread and size of the boots being worn by the suspect, Kevin Smith.

As a result of the K9 track and the investigation performed by Sheriff's Deputies, Smith was arrested for felonious Breaking and Entering and Larceny After Breaking and Entering. He was placed in the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 7.