Dog 'bravely' chased suspects through river and electric fence

A police dog has been awarded a trophy for tracking two hit and run suspects, who fled an overturned car on the M8, through a river and over an electric fence.

PD Storm and his handler constable Raymond Martin were driving along the motorway towards Edinburgh on May 27 when they came across a vehicle on its roof straddling the hard shoulder and inside lane.

Witnesses said two men had run off towards woodland and Storm gave chase. He picked up their scent and tracked them through fields, a river and an electric fence. PC Martin was electrocuted in the process, but was able to continue the search.

Storm found the suspects over two miles away from the crash scene where they were hiding underneath a riverbank partly submerged in the water.

Storm helped detain them until more officers arrived and the men were arrested and charged with a variety of offences.

Both Storm and PC Martin have been awarded the British Transport Police’s Bryan Trophy for what the force called “their invaluable contribution” at the scene of the hit and run “bravely pursuing” the suspects.

And Storm is putting up his paws and retiring after seven years of service in Scotland.

Chief inspector Pete Kooper said: “Huge congratulations are in order for PC Martin and PD Storm who demonstrated exemplary perseverance and determination in tracking two suspects who had tried their best to flee the scene of a crime.

“It’s a fitting end to an illustrious career in BTP for PD Storm who has spent seven years protecting the railway network in Scotland. We’d all like to wish him a very happy and much deserved retirement.”

Two other police dogs were nominated for the award. In October, PC Harris and PD Frankie tracked two burglary suspects down onto the railway lines in London. They chased them for two miles before helping detain them and recovery the stolen property.

PC Worthington and PD Ben tracked suspected cable thieves in North Yorkshire last June. Ben responded to a sound which alerted his handler to spot the two men fleeing the scene over a nearby fence.