Portage County deputies say a routine suspicious vehicle call turned into a brief roadside drama Wednesday, ending when K-9 Hector tracked down and helped capture an armed suspect along Sandy Lake Road in Rootstown Township. The man allegedly ditched a vehicle reported stolen out of Tallmadge, then tried to steal another car while armed with a handgun before bolting on foot. Deputies and the sheriff's P.A.C.E. unit searched the area, and the dog team followed a trail to a nearby spot where the suspect was taken into custody.
According to the Portage County Sheriffs Office, Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski identified the suspect as Daniel Summers and said community members reported a suspicious vehicle on Sandy Lake Road. The sheriff's post states that Summers had vehicle keys in his pocket next to a crack pipe and that he attempted to steal another vehicle while armed. "K9 Hector apprehended the suspect after a foot pursuit," Zuchowski wrote in the reel.
How Deputies Say the Chase Unfolded
The sheriff's reel lays out a quick chain of events. A vehicle reported stolen from Tallmadge was located on Sandy Lake Road, then abandoned. Neighbors called in the suspicious car, and patrol units moved into the area. When the driver took off on foot, deputies and the P.A.C.E. team established a perimeter while K-9 Hector followed the track to the suspect's hiding spot. The reel does not depict any exchange of gunfire and does not report injuries from the encounter.
PACE Unit and K-9 Support
The P.A.C.E. (Portage Aggressive Crime Enforcement) unit is used by the sheriff's office for focused responses to vehicle theft and other crimes, and the department frequently releases video updates on these cases. Reporting that has reviewed the sheriff's public posts notes that Zuchowski often turns to social media to share unit activity and arrest videos, a habit that draws both praise and scrutiny. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the office's social media presence is a notable part of how it communicates with the community.
Legal Notes
According to the Portage County Sheriffs Office, the post did not list formal charges and focused on the pursuit and apprehension. Although the sheriff's account alleges that the suspect was armed and in possession of paraphernalia, any potential weapons or property charges must first be reviewed by prosecutors. The post does not state whether Summers was booked into custody or specify what counts could be filed. Court records will reflect the charges if and when they are officially brought.
