WHITESIDE COUNTY, Ill. — A burglary suspect was caught in Whiteside County after a police pursuit thanks to the efforts of a K9 unit, according to a news release from the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office.
On Wednesday, Dec. 8 at about 8:10 a.m., deputies were on a routine patrol in the area of Spring Hill and Howard Roads when they attempted to stop a vehicle in traffic.
The car's driver then fled the area both on and off the road, leading to a chase.
When the chase reached the area of Yager Road south of Star Road, the car left the road again to flee across farm fields before driving into the tree line on Perkins Road.
When police found and caught up to the car, they found it abandoned in the timber.
A K9 who was already at the scene picked up the suspect's track and guided the deputies a quarter mile through the treeline towards his location. After using a thermal imaging device to confirm the suspect's location, deputies were able to take him into custody.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Jacob Austin of Davenport, was charged with burglary and various traffic offenses and resides in the Whiteside County Jail.
More From News 8
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel
