K-9 “Fox” Praised for Saving Greenville Police Officers

Greenville police are crediting a K-9 officer for possibly saving their lives.  Corporal Michael Austin says K-9 Fox stopped a suspect from shooting at dozens of officers Thursday morning.

Police say John Ham Junior carjacked a special needs van with a patient on board and then led them on a chase down Maudin Road and Interstate 85.  Officers were able to shoot out one of the van’s tires, but they say the suspect took off on foot.

Austin says Fox pursued the suspect, jumped on him, and bit him on the left shoulder.  He says the Ham pulled out a gun but the K-9 knocked it out of his hand.  “A lot of thing could have happened worse case an officer may have been killed or hurt seriously,“ Austin said.

Police arrested John Ham Jr. He faces more than a dozen charges, including kidnapping and carjacking.

Fox has been a K-9 with the Greenville Police Department for four years.