Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces both veteran and newly deployed members of the K9 Unit have had a major role in recent incidents.

Since February 8, the new and veteran K9 Unit members have been called to a dozen separate incidents to assist fellow Deputies and area police departments in conducting narcotic and building searches, as well as and track individuals.

February 8, Town of Evans – Deputy Grabar and Cort assisted another agency with a narcotics search.

February 16, 1:20 a.m., Town of Tonawanda – Deputy Lundberg and Haso assisted the Town of Tonawanda Police Department track a suspect.

February 16, 8:30 p.m. – Deputy Galbraith and Apollo assisted the sheriff’s narcotics unit with a search warrant.

February 16, 9:30 p.m., Town of Newstead – Deputy Lundberg and Haso searched a business after the sheriff’s office received a burglary alarm.

February 17, 1:52 a.m., Village of Springville – Deputy Grabar and Cort assisted Deputy Pisa after a traffic stop on Main Street. The subsequent narcotics search discovered a quantity of marijuana and Deputies arrested Codi Curtin, 19 of Little Valley, charging him with unlawful possession of marijuana and issued tickets for no license plate lights and operating an uninspected vehicle. He was released on an appearance ticket with a future court date.

February 17, 9:08 p.m., Town of Collins – Deputy Szkatulski and Monty tracked an individual in distress. The K9 unit located the individual after a brief search and they were reunited with family.

February 17, 9:30 p.m., City of Buffalo – Deputy Galbraith and Apollo assisted the narcotics unit during the execution of a search warrant at 43 Tyler Street. This investigation resulted in the arrest of four individuals suspected of dealing marijuana, methamphetamines, and ketamine.

February 19, 5:46 p.m., Deputy Galbraith and Apollo were dispatched to assist in a narcotics search of a vehicle and other items related to an ongoing investigation.
February 19, 9:30 p.m., Town of Brant – Deputy Szkatulski initiated a traffic stop on Erie Road for a vehicle with inadequate license plate lighting. While speaking with the operator, the Deputy detected the odor of marijuana. The Deputy deployed Monty and searched the vehicle; Monty made a positive alert and a bag of marijuana was discovered. Anna Grazier was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and was issued a ticket for the inadequate lighting. The defendant will have to appear in Brant Town Court on a future date.

February 21, 12:02 a.m., Town of Evans – after a traffic stop for inadequate lighting, Deputy Szkatulski and Monty searched Brittany Leone’s vehicle. The search discovered a quantity of marijuana. Leone, 31 of Silver Creek, was released on tickets for unlawful possession of marijuana and a lighting violation.

February 21, 10:13 p.m., Town of Lancaster – Deputy Lundberg and Haso were requested by other law enforcement agencies to assist in searching for a suspect involved in possible car larcenies. The unit searched a building and a vehicle for the agencies.