SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The South Charleston Police Department issued a statement on Thursday providing a status update on Chapmanville Police Department K9 Chase, who has been missing since Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Officers with SCPD were dispatched to a residence within South Charleston city limits on April 11, 2023 to assist in the locating of K9 police dog “Chase” which had been entrusted in the care of a Chapmanville Police Officer when it allegedly escaped from a fenced in yard at a residence within city limits of South Charleston, Kanawha County, WV.
A SCPD Patrolman discussed the circumstances of the K9’s disappearance with the CPD officer entrusted with Chase’s care, who stated that the K9 must have escaped from the yard while left outside.
South Charleston Police Department patrol units conducted thorough searches in attempts to locate Chase as well as utilizing social media to request public assistance in determining the K9’s whereabouts.
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a request was made by the Chapmanville Police Department to the South Charleston Police Department to continue their search along with the conducting of an investigation into the potential theft of the K9, to which the South Charleston Police Department agreed.
The South Charleston Detective Bureau launched an investigation into the matter, and located, recovered, and reviewed hours of surveillance video in efforts to determine the K9’s whereabouts as part of this investigation.
A week-long investigation by the South Charleston Police Department has reportedly determined that Chase did not, in fact, escape from the yard on April 11, 2023, as alleged by the Chapmanville Police Officer who had been entrusted with his care.
“The investigation has revealed that the Chapmanville officer’s statements about Chase’s disappearance have been inconsistent,” read the statement from South Charleston Police Department Captain A.R. Gordon.
Chief Browning and other administration officials from the Town of Chapmanville are reported to have provided assistance to the SCPD throughout the course of the investigation, and the Chapmanville Police Department have been informed of the results, according to the SCPD.
Requests have been made by the SCPD for the public’s continued search for Chase, as well as for any additional information about the missing K9 prior to his reported disappearance on April 11, 2023.