Executive Summary
- Ronald Pilkington, accused of injuring a Southaven police K-9 in a hit-and-run, was captured in Tipton County, Tennessee.
- A multi-agency task force, including U.S. Marshals, found him hiding in an attic and used less-than-lethal devices to arrest him.
- The K-9, Dagger, sustained critical injuries but has been released from an animal hospital to continue recovering at home.
- Authorities confirmed Pilkington also had outstanding local warrants and a significant prior arrest history.
A man accused of striking and critically injuring a police K-9 with a vehicle during a traffic stop in DeSoto County last week has been captured in Tipton County, Tennessee. The arrest followed a multi-agency search that ended with the suspect being found hiding in the attic of a residence.
According to a statement from Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley, Ronald Pilkington was taken into custody on Tuesday. The arrest was a joint effort involving Tipton County deputies, the Memphis Safe Task Force, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Authorities located Pilkington at a home on Simmons Road in Drummonds, Tennessee. Officials reported that he refused to surrender, prompting the deployment of less-than-lethal devices to facilitate his arrest in the attic where he was hiding.
The initial incident occurred last Tuesday when Pilkington allegedly fled a traffic stop. Authorities say he ran over Dagger, a K-9 with the Southaven Police Department. The dog was transported to an emergency veterinary clinic in critical condition with several broken bones, requiring a blood transfusion. The Southaven Police Department has since confirmed that Dagger was released from the animal hospital on Friday and is continuing his recovery at home.
In addition to the charges in DeSoto County, Sheriff Beasley stated that Pilkington had outstanding local warrants in Tipton County. His prior arrest history in the county includes charges for drug offenses, driving violations, theft, domestic violence, and evading arrest. Further details on the new charges are expected to be released. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.