Clark County Sheriff Gene A. Kelly received a $200 donation from the Mad River Valley Kennel Club of Springfield for the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Yari.

On December 20, 2015 Yari, a 3½ year old Belgian Malinois, and Deputy Lemen responded to the Drake Motel at 3200 East National Rd. on a report of a wanted fugitive in the lobby with a gun. As they approached the Motel the subject exited the Motel and was ordered to stop. He then ran from the Motel across traffic and into the parking lot of Cinema 10, where there were several citizens in the parking area. The subject then hid under a parked truck. A witness told deputies they saw him under a truck hiding. Deputies believed he still had a gun. He was warned four different times to show his hands and come out or Yari would be deployed. As Yari was being deployed the subject then began to run and jumped on top of a parked car. Yari then jumped on top of the parked car and took the subject into custody. The subject was fighting and kicking K-9 Yari and they both fell to the ground. The subject Paul Powell Jr. was taken into custody, and taken to Springfield Regional Hospital for treatment of puncture wounds. K-9 Yari had his lower right Canine tooth broken off from being kicked by Powell. K-9 Yari did suffer serious injury during this arrest. Paul Powell Jr. was charged with Assaulting a Police Dog a Felony Charge and also Obstructing Official Business, Possession of Cocaine and Resisting arrest.

The injury to Clark County Sheriff’s K-9 Yari was serious as he had his lower canine tooth kicked and broken out. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has a Special Trust Fund Established to help pay for medical and other expenses associated with Deputy K-9 Yari. Sheriff Gene A. Kelly expressed his gratitude to the members of the Mad River Kennel Club.