Good Girl: Connecticut K-9 Honored by Troopers After Arrest

According to Connecticut State Police, what started as a single-car crash on Route 8 in Watertown late Saturday night quickly turned into a short-lived game of hide-and-seek — and spoiler alert, the police won.

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State troopers say they were called to Route 8 northbound near Exit 34 around 10:20 p.m. on January 17 after reports of a vehicle that had crashed into the median. When they arrived, they realized the driver had already taken off from the scene. That’s when Trooper DeFeo and his K9 partner, Nala, were brought in to help track the suspect. Nala picked up the trail and followed it about a quarter-mile into the woods, where she successfully located the driver, who was then taken into custody.

Police say the suspect now faces a long list of charges, including evading responsibility involving property damage, interfering with an officer, failure to maintain lane, misuse of plates, operating without a license, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. The accused was held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on January 20, 2026. Moral of the story: if you crash and think running into the woods is a solid escape plan, just know there’s a very good chance a highly trained dog is about to ruin your night.

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Great work, Nala! We can’t have these perps (allegedly) thinking they can just run roughshod all over Connecticut and walk away clean. Hopefully you brought him in without incident, gave those shoes a proper squeeze back at the barracks, and made sure every report, form, and checkbox was squared away — nobody wants a paperwork nightmare or an unexpected trip to the jackpot after a solid collar.

When it comes to my favorite dog breeds, I’ve always leaned toward bulldogs and pugs — anything with those hilariously puffy, permanently sad-looking faces. That said, there’s one clear exception: German Shepherds are absolutely the best.