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Search dog helps find missing man

New K-9 Jimmy earning his keep with county Sheriff’s Office
Jimmy, with his handler Deputy Matt Webb, found a man Friday who was unconscious in the woods in the 14000 block off Florida Road (County Road 240).

German shepherd Jimmy has been with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office only since May, but he has already found his second missing person. And he probably saved a life in the process.

On Friday morning, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about 9 a.m. that 22-year-old Dylan McDade was missing in the 14000 block of Florida Road (County Road 240), Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dan Bender said.

“There were empty bottles in the home and concern for his safety, that he might have taken the wrong medication or too much medication,” Bender said. “His family hadn’t seen him in some time, and their attempts to find him were unsuccessful.”

Someone thought they had seen McDade walk into the woods near the home.

“It was rugged terrain, mountainous, with lots of downed trees from the Missionary Ridge Fire,” Bender said. “Deputies searched for a while and then asked Deputy Matt Webb to bring Jimmy.”

Jimmy searched an arc until he found the man’s scent trail, and then led deputies right to him about 10:15 a.m.

“He was unconscious and unresponsive,” Bender said. “Given his physical condition at the time, it’s doubtful he would have survived if he hadn’t been found.”

Webb said Deputy Monte Albrecht was the other hero of the day, carrying the man over his shoulder 300 yards, about a quarter of a mile, down the mountain over downed trees to get him to lifesaving treatment as soon as possible.

“He was taken to Mercy (Regional Medical Center) and has made a full recovery,” Bender said.

Jimmy, a 2-year-old dog, has been involved in 59 calls, Bender said, including finding methamphetamine, recovering a firearm discarded in a ravine and helping another agency find a fugitive hiding in a ditch. He was purchased for the Sheriff’s Office using donated funds.

abutler@durangoherald.com



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