The combined efforts of two Steuben County deputy sergeants and a K-9, along with state and other local law enforcement helped safely end an early morning manhunt Nov. 14 near West Union, according to county Sheriff Jim Allard. Allard recently told the county Legislature’s Public Safety and Corrections Committee the assistance and prompt actions of Sgt. Brandon Scott, Sgt. Shawn Shutt and K-9 Daimon also likely prevented further criminal action. Allard told the committee Scott has just completed his overnight shift when he learned an alleged armed robbery, kidnapping and theft of a vehicle had just occurred in Alfred, with the unidentified suspect possibly traveling towards Steuben. Scott responded to the Steuben/Allegany counties line near West Union where it was learned the suspect had been in a vehicle collision with Pennsylvania law enforcement and was believed to be south of Whitesville, in Potter County. Scott began his search for the suspect on secondary roads, following fresh vehicle tracks to Webster Road and located what appeared to be the stolen vehicle. He alerted the Pennsylvania State Police, and other responding law enforcement agencies, who met at the scene of the vehicle. When law enforcement approached the suspect vehicle, they found the operator had left it on foot. Shutt and K-9 Daimon began tracking the suspect, who was located several hundred yards northwest of the vehicle and was taken into custody safely and without injury. In his commendations before the legislative committee, Allard said Shutt’s and Scott’s actions also likely prevented further crimes against residents living the isolated area. "The fact that you both, without hesitation, assessed the public safety need and responded to this search is a testament to your leadership, professionalism, integrity, and service," Allard said. Scott and Shutt assisted the Pennsylvania State Police, with Steuben Deputy Thomas Nybeck, Alfred Police Chief Paul Griffith and New York state troopers also assisting in the manhunt.
