Top Dog K9 Ghost Sniffs Out Weapons Cache

SANTA ROSA, CA — Officers responding to a disturbance uncovered a stash of ammunition and a 9mm revolver within reach of one of the suspects with the help of a K9 police dog.

Police were called to a "distburbance" on Sunday at about 6:45 p.m. involving to people on Delfos Court.

Police searched the vehicle one of the people involved, 30-year-old Santa Rosa resident Nicholas Vanthong, who had been convicted of a felony in the past.

The department's K9, Ghost, sniffed out a suspected firearm near the front Vanthong's vehicle.

Police found a cardboard box containing a 9mm revolver and ammunition underneath clothing on the front seat, within arms reach of where Vanthong had been sitting when officers arrived.

Vanthong was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail. His charges include convicted felon carrying a concealed firearm, having a loaded firearm in public, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and a violation of a court order.

K9 Ghost, one of three Belgian Malinois on the Santa Rosa Police Department's K9 Team, led to the discovery of 14 firearms in 2024, Santa Rosa polices said.

The year before, District-4 Rep. Mike Thompson recognized K9 Ghost in 2024 for "individual efforts in locating 13 firearms."