Rostraver police K9 officer Duvall was credited Friday with helping township police locate and arrest two suspects during a daylight residential burglary.
Todd Houseman, 43, of Monongahela, and Mack Simms, 47, of Monessen, were awaiting arraignment in night court on multiple charges of burglary, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property filed by police.
Police reported in a news release that just after 10 a.m., officers were dispatched to a call of a burglary in progress to a residence on Salem Church Road, where the owners were not home.
Reports said when the first officer arrived, he spotted a man standing in front of a window. Police said when the suspect saw patrol cars arriving, “he concealed himself within the residence.”
Police called Duvall and his handler, officer Joseph Spinola, and surrounded the residence.
After the suspect refused to surrender after multiple police commands, Duvall and officers entered the residence and Duvall located Simms hiding in a closet, police said.
When police announced they were going to release Duvall to locate other potential suspects, Houseman surrendered without incident.
During the course of the investigation, police said they learned Houseman had entered the same residence Sept. 28 and later pawned $10,000 worth of jewelry he allegedly stole.
