K-9 handler: “We’re going to make a dent” in drug crimes

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) – Madison County’s newest tool in fighting drug crimes walks on four legs and is covered with fur.

The department is training a drug-sniffing K-9 to hit the streets in early August.

He’s a one-year-old Belgian Malinois named Spike. The guys who know him describe him as friendly.

But if you get on Spike’s bad side, you won’t want to be his friend.

“I’ll let the drug dealers know that Spike is hammering drugs right now in training. He’s awesome. We’re going to make a dent,” Spike’s handler Justin Weber said.

Police said Madison County ranked in the top 20 for meth busts last year out of the state’s 92 counties.

Officers demonstrated Spike’s skills Wednesday when they hid a bag of drugs in the gas tank of a car. Within 15 seconds, Spike found the bag.

“We’re learning together as a team. He’s reading me, I’m reading him. The more sets we’re doing, we’re going to be a better team,” Weber said.

Weber’s old partner was a dog named Diesel.

Diesel chased down drug dealers for six years before doctors discovered cancer and he had to be put down.

To help the department get Spike, people donated more than $1,300 dollars to a GoFundMe page. The sheriff said there were also two $5,000 dollar donors and five $1,000 dollar donors. The donations went to the cost of the K-9 and his training. 

“He’s not just here at work. He’s with me at home. He knows my family, knows my friends,” Weber said.

Spike will also help out neighboring agencies, according to police.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department already has one K-9. Police say that dog excels at sniffing out explosives.