K-9 Unit Rescues Man Near Merrionette Park Baseball Fields

By Ryan Fitzpatrick

Cook County Sheriff's Police located a 24-year-old at-risk Evergreen Park man alive on Thursday afternoon, and they owe it all to Kelli, the K-9 unit dog, they said.

Sheriff's police were alerted to a suspicious vehicle near the 3400 block of West 119th St. Officers learned that the vehicle's driver was in a despondent state and might try to hurt himself.

The plucky K-9 bloodhound led the ground search, while a helicopter attempted to locate the man using thermal imaging equipment.

K-9 Kelly tracked the man's scent to a spot where he was found laying on the ground under a thermal blanket, news release stated. 

Sheriff's police said that his wrists were injured when they found him. He was given medical attention and transported to a local hospital.