A US police dog has tragically died after falling down an elevator shaft while assisting police in a search for burglary suspects in Pennsylvania.
Police say that just after 4am on Sunday, officers were dispatched to reports of a burglary at an old warehouse.
Two of five suspects were quickly apprehended, and the K-9 unit was dispatched to help find the others, police said.
During the search of the five-story building, K-9 Titan fell through an unsecured open elevator shaft on the fourth floor of the building, police said.
The animal was rescued but suffered fatal injuries, police said.
All five suspects were eventually taken into custody.
K-9 Titan had “served honorably” with the Johnstown Police Department since 2014 and died “in the line of duty,” Captain Chad Miller said.
Titan was the partner of Officer Brian Stevens. Captain Miller described Titan’s fatal fall as “a heartbreaking accident”.
The warehouse didn’t have electricity, which forced Titan and police officers to conduct their search in darkness, relying on flashlights to guide them, when the Belgian Malinois fell to his death.
Captain Miller also paid tribute to the officers on the scene for managing to finish the job in incredibly distressing circumstances.
Titan was today given an official police escort from his serving station to a local funeral home, with members of the community lining the route to pay their respects for his service (pictured).
“Titan was loved and respected by the men and women who served alongside him, especially his handler, Officer Stevens,” said County District Attorney, Greg Neugebauer.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Stevens and his family, and to the entire police department family during this difficult time.
