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Stephens County’s newest K-9 unit officers are deputy Daniel Dixon and his partner, Reba.
Stephens County has added a second K-9 unit to its division.
Deputy Daniel Dixon has been with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office since 2017 but recently was assigned the role of K-9 handler.
Dixon said he had never considered becoming a handler but after training in October with K-9 deputy Reba, a Dutch Shepherd, he’s enjoyed the new experience.
“I’ve always been a dog guy,” Dixon said. “This is a good opportunity to excel in law enforcement.”
Dixon said the training was a month-long process.
“It’s a rigorous training with a lot of moving…a lot of new knowledge and a lot of attention to detail,” Dixon said.
Reba is trained in narcotic detections and tracking.
“Tracking is probably the hardest in K-9 school,” Dixon said, explaining that K-9’s using odors to track can be led off the track if the wind shifts or rain dilutes the scent.
“Odor’s what the dog knows,” Dixon said.
Reba’s already been involved in some cases in Stephens County including a Dec. 9 incident reported last week that resulted in two arrests involving methamphetamine possession and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
There also was a second incident on Dec. 12 with Reba and Dixon assisting in arrests.
That incident involved an attempt to stop a Jeep Cherokee near a business on Big A Road.
Sheriff Randy Shirley said that deputies were informed a wanted suspect was inside the vehicle.
But after lights and sirens were activated, Shirley said the driver continued onward at a slow speed, made a quick U-turn on Big A Road heading south and accelerating.
Shirley said the chase reached speeds of more than 100 mph once past the Walmart on Big A Road.
“The driver continued on State Route 17 until he attempted to turn onto Eastanollee Bypass,” Shirley said.
That’s when the vehicle crashed and the suspect exited and fled on foot, Shirley said.
Dixon and Reba searched the area along with other deputies and found the driver hiding under a nearby mobile home.
Shirley said deputies and Reba located a “sizable quantity of marijuana.
The driver, Roger Neal, 32, of Toccoa, was arrested on charges of felony probation warrant, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, driving with out valid license, reckless driving, too fast for conditions, three counts of failure to obey signs or control devices, and failure to maintain lane.
“The addition of K-9 Reba to the unit has been essential in allowing greater access of the narcotics K-9 to all four shifts,” Shirley said. “Reba is proving to be a well trained and valuable addition to combating illegal drugs in Stephens County.”