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Canine Unit Hauls In Scrap Metal Suspects

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

Courtenay Savage
Herminio Soto
Todd Smith

A Pinellas County canine team helped arrest men who stole marine scrap metal early Friday, Pinellas deputies say.

The incident began about 3 a.m. when the business alarm sounded at Don's Salvage Yard in Pinellas County. William J. Tess, a salvage yard employee spending the night on site, woke up and called 911.

After deputies arrived on scene, they saw metal had been moved outside the property, a sheriff's office news release states. A canine unit came to the scene to search for suspects.

Deputy Nicholas Baez and Tonka, his canine partner, found a suspect under a tarp near a dumpster. Tonka pulled out suspect Pablo Malvin Iglesias, and a second suspect, 19-year-old Miguel Almeida-Fournerie of Bradenton, decided to come out on his own from under the tarp, deputies say.

Tonka then found a third suspect. The dog's handler told the suspect to show his hands and come out from behind trash receptacles, but that suspect didn't comply, the release states. Tonka then was used to apprehend that man, Julio Herrera Fernandez.

Iglesias, 44, and Fernandez 18, both of Tampa, were taken to a hospital and were treated for injuries caused by Tonka, deputies say.

Iglesias, Fernandez and Almeida-Fournerie were charged with commercial burglary, grand theft, trespassing and possession of burglary tools.

The marine scrap metal moved outside the property weighed about 1,000 pounds and was worth $5,000 to $7,000, deputies say.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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