On October 27, 2014 at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Los Banos Police Department responded to the 600 Block of Manchester Drive after a women reported finding a small female child wandering in the neighborhood.
Officer Preston Jelen took custody of the child, who was unable to tell the officers her name or where she lived. Officer Bill Westbrook and his K-9 partner, Maximus responded and within minutes was able to track the child’s scent back to an apartment located in the 1985 San Luis Apartment Complex. The officers learned the child’s mother was asleep and was unaware her daughter walked out of the residence.
“Our K-9 team has attended advanced training, which included the ability to track a scent to its origin. Normally this would be used to track a suspect, but in this case our K-9 team was able to help a little girl who wandered away from her home. Great work Maximus and Officer Westbrook!”
-Ray Reyna, Police Commander
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
