- West Virginia, USA -
Back in April, the Chapmanville Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department took to social media to request the public’s assistance in locating K9 Officer Chase.
On April 11, 2023, part of a Facebook post published by the South Charleston Police Department read: “Chase who is a K9 for the Chapmanville Police Department jumped his fence this morning located on 2nd Ave in South Charleston and has not been seen since.”
A week later, in an update the Department advised that K9 Officer Chase had not been located yet.
Months after Officer Chase’s disappearance, his handler, MARCUS DUDLEY (pictured), is facing numerous charges. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, a Kanawha County grand jury indicted DUDLEY on three counts of falsely reporting an emergency, two counts of making false statements and obstructing an officer, and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
At the time of Officer Chase’s disappearance, DUDLEY was a Chapmanville Police officer but lived in South Charleston.
On April 20, 2023, South Charleston Police determined that K9 Officer Chase “did not run away, like the handler initially reported, and was not stolen”, reports Eyewitness News.
Mike Mayes, with Battle Ridge K9, also believes that Officer Chase did not run away. As he explained to Eyewitness News, he has been training K9 Officers for decades and Officer Chase was one of them. Officer Chase finished his training program with Mayes in late March and then was handed over to DUDLEY. Being familiar with Officer Chase’s behavior and temperament, Mayes said that everything about this story just doesn't add up!
Eyewitness News published South Charleston Police Department’s statement regarding the investigation: “South Charleston Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into the disappearance of police K-9 Chase. The investigation was presented to the Kanawha County Grand Jury who returned an indictment against Marcus Dudley. SCPD has received a tremendous amount of community support and assistance in its efforts to find Chase. Unfortunately, he has yet to be located. However, SCPD remains committed to finding Chase.”
It’s unclear whether DUDLEY will be taken into custody to face arraignment in circuit court, which is set for August 9, 2023, at 10:30.
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