WARMINGTON: Two Halton K9 cops hailed for heroic carjacking collars

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It was a Dog Day Afternoon on Wednesday when courageous Halton K9 officer Freddy was shot during the apprehension of two carjacking suspects and the seizure of a loaded gun in Burlington.

This was no movie – but it certainly could be.

“Freddy was shot in the paw,” Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner said Friday. “Veterinarians did an amazing job patching him up and he is expected to fully recover.”

“It was such a high-risk situation for Freddy, his partner and the other officers,” the region’s top cop added.

Consts. Ryan Anderson and Jeff Dillon made the point that if Freddy didn’t locate this gun, it would still be in the park – perhaps a child or passerby would have found the firearm or stepped on it.

“This was scary,” Tanner said. “The bullet could have easily killed Freddy or his handler. This was a close call.”

It was incredible police work.

Both of the accused have previously had serious run-ins with the law – one is on parole for a manslaughter and the other for firearms offences.

A second K9 officer named Blue was also involved in the pursuit of the accused just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and assisted in one of the arrests.

In Freddy’s case, he found a firearm that was allegedly used in a gunpoint carjacking.

Both German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois crosses, these two K9 cops are the heroes in this story – one for helping track down a suspect and making an arrest, the other for locating the gun alleged used in a carjacking.

“The police dogs and their handlers are heroes,” Tanner said.

The risk of going up against potentially dangerous criminals is immense.

“Freddy found the gun in some brush and alerted his handler,” Tanner said, explaining the firearm had been dumped and it was inadvertently triggered.

“It tuns out it was loaded,” he added.

It all started with two carjackers attempting to steal a woman’s a Porsche.

The woman was driving her Porsche Macan in the area of Guelph Ln. and Derry Rd. when she became “concerned” and noticed she was “being followed” by an allegedly stolen grey Chevrolet pickup truck, police said.

“The victim pulled into the parking lot of Kilbride Public School where two masked men each armed with a handgun exited the suspect vehicle pointing the handguns at her,” cops explained.

Police said officers began searching and found the victim’s Porsche, and the pickup, abandoned and in a parking lot near Tobyn and Kilmer Drs. in Burlington.

Two suspects were subsequently identified and located shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday in the area of Walkers Ln. and Kilmer Dr. One man was found walking and the other man was allegedly found in a stolen Volkswagen SUV.

James Garthwaite, 33, of Burlington, is charged with robbery with a firearm, pointing a firearm, motor vehicle theft when violence used, unauthorized possession of a weapon, wearing a disguise with intent, fentanyl and crystal meth trafficking, and two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm.

Garthwaite was convicted of manslaughter seven years ago for a 2017 armed home invasion where innocent Dana Camber was “shot and killed” in Barrie. He was sentenced to 10 years but released early after receiving 16 months of credit for pre-sentence custody.

At the time of Wednesday’s carjacking, Garthwaite was out on statutory parole.

William Langdon, 32, of Oakville, faces the same offences but he is additionally charged with “failing to comply being on a release order” and “failing to comply with two counts of (violating) a probation order” stemming from firearms convictions.

“I cannot imagine the fear experienced by the victim during this violent and terrifying armed carjacking,” Tanner said. “On behalf of the Halton Regional Police Service, I extend my thoughts to her and her family during this incredibly traumatic time.”

What an ugly mess. It had all the elements and potential for another woman to die, not to mention a police officer and a police dog. A inch here or a press of a trigger there and this could have ended far worse.

“I am deeply concerned by the escalating level of violence and the use of loaded firearms in the commission of these crimes,” an outraged Tanner said. “Let me be perfectly clear – this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our community.”

“If convicted, I am hopeful the courts will impose substantial sentences that reflect the serious and dangerous nature of these offences,” the Chief added.

Halton has the “not in our town” motto and they will risk death to try to achieve that and protect their citizens. These two accused remained in custody on Friday awaiting a bail hearing – again.

“We are appreciative of the collective efforts and collaboration of many internal and external personnel who worked tirelessly, quickly and effectively to get violent offenders and several firearms off our streets,” said Supt. Dave Costantini, of 3 District Burlington. “We are equally grateful for our tenacious PSD Freddy and look forward to his full recovery.”

Freddy, who has been a K9 cop for five years, has been given the weekend off – actually he’s been given all the time he needs.

Give both law enforcement hounds extra biscuits! They’ve earned it!

“We are proud of Freddy, Blue and the whole team,” Tanner said. “They are all amazing police officers.”

jwarmington@postmedia.com