The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office received two new K-9s, Ash and Bane, in late January 2021. Both K-9s are Belgian Malinois from the Czech Republic. These K-9s were purchased through seized drug money that was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office by the Drug Asset Forfeiture Program. This money was also used to outfit the handlers with equipment for handling and transporting the K-9s. These K-9s have had and continue to receive extensive training on a daily basis with their handlers.
Corporal Jacob Barnes and Corporal Cole Weitzel are the newest K-9 handlers for the Sheriff’s Office. Cpl. Weitzel has been assigned to K-9 Bane and Cpl. Barnes to K-9 Ash. They have joined Lieutenant Timothy Simms and German Shepherd K-9 Mick to assist with tracking, searches, and drug seizures throughout Alexander County, and in surrounding counties if needed.