A Little Rock police dog died of heat-related illnesses Wednesday after chasing and subduing a car burglary suspect downtown, police reported.
Police spokesman officer Richard Hilgeman said Titus, a German shepherd, had been a three-year veteran of the Police Department's downtown division.
The dog's final act of police work came after officers pulled over a Toyota Avalon about 3:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Cumberland Street. Two men in the vehicle were suspected of breaking into a Jeep Grand Cherokee in the area, according to a police report.
The driver of the Avalon, Herbert Goss Jr., 42, was arrested. The other man, later identified by police as Maulton Alexander, 43, got out of the vehicle and ran, dropping a car stereo in the process, police reported.
Officer Jason Farmer and Titus searched the area and found Alexander in the backyard of a home at 514 Sherman St., the report states. Titus chased and bit Alexander on the left ankle, and Alexander was arrested, the report says.
Goss and Alexander were both charged with breaking or entering, theft of property and fleeing. Alexander was additionally charged with obstructing governmental operations.
Soon after the men were arrested, Titus began showing signs of "heat-related distress," Hilgeman said. Officers rushed Titus to Briarwood Animal Hospital, where he died.
Hilgeman did not know the dog's age.
"His efforts led to countless arrests," he said in a news release. "Titus was loved by the community and his fellow officers, and will be deeply missed."
Hilgeman declined to speak to Farmer, Titus' handler, on behalf of a reporter seeking comment. He said the dog's death had left Farmer "very shaken up."
"It's a very personal thing, and he's a very private person. We're giving him some time," Hilgeman said.
The high temperature Wednesday in Little Rock was 98 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A heat advisory has been in effect for most of Arkansas since Monday afternoon. Daily temperatures this week have reached the upper 90s, and heat index values have topped 100.
The heat advisory is to remain in effect until at least Friday night.
Goss and Alexander, Little Rock residents who had both been on parole, were being held in the Pulaski County jail Thursday.
Metro on 07/17/2015