Essex County OPP say the newest member of the force has been earning his pay since arriving in November.

Canine Maximus and his handler Const. Milan Matovski have had a number of successful tracks since their arrival as the OPP’s newest K9 team.

On Nov. 28, at approximately 2:20 a.m. a motor vehicle pursuit was initiated but called off for safety reasons in Lakeshore, involving a small grey Ford.  The same vehicle had been involved in similar pursuits in both the City of Windsor and Town of LaSalle earlier in the evening.

The vehicle had been reported stolen and was last observed eastbound on Essex County Road 22, west of Puce.

Upon arriving in the area, OPP members found the vehicle had crashed in the newly constructed “roundabout” near the intersection of Old Tecumseh Road and County Road 22.

The occupants of the vehicle had fled on foot.  A canine track was initiated and one of the occupants was located by canine Maximus hiding in a nearby parking lot.

Jacob Brode, 31, of Windsor has been charged with:

  -Theft of motor vehicle

-Break enter and theft

-Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000

-Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000

-Flight while pursued by police officer

-Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

Sarah Bianchi, 34, of London has been charged with:

-Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000

-Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000