The Southaven Police Department is on the lookout for a man who injured a police K9 during an attempted traffic stop. The suspect, identified as Ronald "Bubba" Pilkington, allegedly fled the scene on foot and is still at large. He was last seen running northbound on Highway 51 from Stateline Road, as reported by Action News 5.
Pilkington, described as 6'1" tall and weighing 175 pounds, was wearing a brown canvas-style jacket, dark pants, and white shoes. He is considered armed and dangerous, according to police statements. Amid the chaos of the traffic stop, the K9, named Dagger, was injured by another vehicle and has since been taken to the veterinarian for treatment. While Dagger was being rushed to veterinary care by officers from the Memphis Police Department, he is now in stable but serious condition, says WREG.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Highway 51 and Main Street in Southaven. Along with Pilkington, Edward Smith, a 53-year-old passenger, was also in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. Smith was apprehended and taken into custody following the incident. According to the Southaven Police, Smith faces several felony warrants from another state. Those charges include possession of a weapon by a felon, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, and possession of paraphernalia, detailed by WREG.
Reflecting on the role of K9 officers in law enforcement, Southaven resident Jonathan Tate told WREG, "Those dogs, they're just as important as the officers, they serve us too." The search for Pilkington continues as Southaven authorities urge the public to come forward with any information on his whereabouts. The Southaven Police Department can be contacted at 662-393-8652 or via email at [email protected], as per the information circulated on their social media and reaffirmed by a post from Local Memphis.
