BARRE, Mass. — A nighttime search for a young man in need of some help ended with the boy being located by a state police K9, well-trained in tracking.
The search and rescue ended successfully in the town of Barre early Thursday morning.
Massachusetts State Police say Trooper Jack Doherty and his K9 partner Roxy along with several other troopers found the distraught teenage boy, armed with “several edged weapons,” the edge of the Barre Falls Dam.
State police say Trooper Doherty started the search for the boy with K9 Roxy at about 3:25 a.m.
In a statement, police say “Roxy pulled down one side of Worcester Road then abruptly pulled to the other side of the road. Eventually, Roxy pulled right onto a trail leading to the Ware River, tracked along the river towards the Barre Falls Dam, and reached the top of the dam. Roxy pulled right, toward the falls, stopped at the wall overlooking the falls, and displayed a change in behavior. Trooper Doherty looked over the wall and located the boy lying on the metal walkway attached to the building along the water level.”
Rescuers then climbed down to where the boy was and assisted him up the ladder and away from the dam. He was then taken to a local hospital.
“Of all the missions our K9s are asked to perform, the most rewarding are when they are able to help someone who is distraught and prevent self-inflicted harm, giving them the chance to get help,” police said.
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