K9 Officer Locates Man In Distress Near Fox River

LAKE COUNTY, IL -- A Lake County Sheriff's Office deputy and his K-9 partner are credited with helping find and assist a missing man who was having a mental breakdown, police said Friday. Deputy John Forlenza and police dog Dax responded to the 28900 block of West Park Drive in unincorporated Barrington on Aug. 24 to help search for the missing man. The man was missing for over an hour and had told loved ones he intended to harm himself, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

When the duo arrived at the scene, Dax immediately started tracking the scent of the missing man, police said. Forlenza and Dax walked for nearly a mile before they found the man lying face down near the shoreline of the Fox River The man was incoherent and in mental distress, police said.

The man was subsequently transported to a local hospital for a mental health well-being evaluation.

“Dax and Deputy Forlenza likely saved this man’s life and I am extremely proud of them," Lake Co. Sheriff Mark Curran said. "We have four canine teams in the community every day, keeping Lake County safe. They have an excellent record of locating missing people, finding fleeing offenders, and detecting contraband. Our canine teams are an asset to the Lake County community."