Fugitive who drowned K9 dog turns himself in

FLORIDA -- A 26-year old St. Johns County man turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal’s Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and SJSO Detectives early this (Wednesday) afternoon.

The suspect, identified as Brandon Bernard Allison, 26, 1077 Puryear St., was arrested on an outstanding warrant and is also wanted for questioning in connection with the death of a St. Johns County K-9. He has been the subject of a massive manhunt since early Tuesday morning.

Allison is charged with the open warrant from 16 April for one count of sale of cocaine. The charge carries a bond of $100,000. Allison fled from a residence in the first block of Twin Aspen Cr., at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday following a disturbance.

Deputy Farrah Ashe and her K-9 “Baron” were tracking the suspect when they came to a fence. The deputy lifted the German Shepherd over the fence and before she was able to transverse the obstacle, the K-9 continued to track.

A short time later, the deputy heard her partner engage with a male individual and when she arrived she found the dog unresponsive in shallow water and the suspect gone. Life saving measures were given to the K-9 who was then transported to a veterinarian hospital where he was pronounced
 deceased.

 Additional charges are pending further investigation by detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

"It was heart crushing," said Joseph Montoro. "The way Baron died from an alleged drowning is a terrible thing."

Montoro has a special connection to the K-9's that serve the St. John's County Sheriff's Office. He donated their very first bomb squad dog, Bravo, to the agency, after his beloved German Shepherd, Rio, had puppies.

Rio died 3 years ago and Bravo passed in 2008. His name is now among those of K-9's and their handlers, etched into a memorial at the SJCSO.

"The loss of a K-9 officer is a loss that touches an entire community," said Montoro.

 

"A memorial service for our beloved K-9, Baron, will be held at the St. Augustine Amphitheater, 1340 A1A South, on Tuesday, October 14th at 11:00 am.

"The service will be open to the public however no personal pets will be allowed due to the large amount of Law Enforcement Service dogs expected to attend."

(St. John's County Sheriff's Office - Oct 8, 2014)