Dogs aren’t just a man’s best friend, they’re also incredibly intelligent animals that are capable of some pretty amazing things. That’s why K-9s work with people with blindness and other conditions as well as with the police. The El Paso Border Patrol Tactical Team BORTAC experienced this first-hand when their police dog Yoda helped track down a killer who managed to escape from prison this week.
- Danelo Cavalcante went on the run after escaping from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania in August. Somehow, he managed to evade authorities and wasn’t seen out and about very much, though he did manage to steal a gun from a house earlier this week.
- Yoda was able to help bring Cavalcante back into custody. The 4-year-old police K-9 is a Belgian Malinois that has been working with the Border Patrol for a while now. When a police aircraft noticed a heat signal at about 1 a.m. on September 13, they knew they were closing in on Cavalcante, and Yoda was instrumental in making it happen.
- Weather conditions meant the hunt had to be postponed. When authorities returned to the area where the signal was picked up later that day, Yoda picked up on the 34-year-old’s scent right away and chased him down, tackling him in place until officers could arrive to cuff the killer.
- Cavalcante was taken back into custody “without incident.” A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a statement: “U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been supporting our federal, state, and local partners during this intense 14-day search. On Wednesday morning, Sept. 13, members of the United States Border Patrol, including elite BORTAC unit agents, together with our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and other federal, state, and local law enforcement, apprehended escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante without incident.”
- Yoda looks so pleased in the photos that were released! The picture shows Calvante on the ground with fabric covering his face and upper body. Officers are crouched beside him, posing with a smiling Yoda. Many took to social media to applaud the pup for helping to get a very dangerous man off the streets. Dogs truly are the best!
escape again, you will not.
meet yoda
4 years old
belgian malinois
BORTAC K9
el paso, texas
border patrol has confirmed this handsome boy aided in cavalcante’s capture this morning. #k9 #yoda #elpasoTX #borderpatrol pic.twitter.com/59FbqA46EP— mandi (@mmmmmmandi) September 14, 2023
Yoda, a K9 from the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) helped authorities capture convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante in PA. pic.twitter.com/Z8f3eHTbfl
— ˜”*°• 𝔾𝕨𝕪𝕟𝕟 •°*”˜ (@GwynninPA) September 14, 2023
