RCC's K-9 Unit at Event in Florida

On September 9-13, 2024, Rayburn Correctional Center’s K-9 Unit participated in the Southeastern States Manhunt Field Trials held in Jay, Florida. The team completed two 1.5 mile tracks with an average time of 12 minutes and 23 seconds and was honored to receive a plaque for 2nd place in the multi-lead event. 

Participating in the event was: Col. Chesley Spears, Lt. Colonel Richard Forbes, Major Mickey Dillon, Captain Jonathan Stringer and Lt. Conner Holmes. 

Click here for previous stories on RCC's K-9 Unit

RCC's K9 Team Places 1st

Members of Rayburn Correctional Center’s K9 Team participated in the Annual Louisiana Department of Corrections Manhunt Field Trials, hosted by Raymond Laborde Correctional Center May 21-24, 2024 at Kisatchie National Forest in Pollock, LA. A total of 42 Chase Team members from 7 DOC facilities, Winnfield Correctional and a K-9 team from Escambia County Florida attended the competition. 

RCC took first place in the competition for the seventh time in the past 12 years. RCC had the fastest average track followed by RLCC in 2nd place, Escambia County in 3rd place and EHCC in 4th place. The teams were very competitive and all were able to successfully catch within the 90 minute time limit. The teams were treated to a crawfish boil, hosted by RLCC after the awards presentation. All members were complimented on their dedication to the training and thanked for their support of the K-9 Units across the department. 

Congratulations to Rayburn Correctional Center’s K9 Team members, Tracking Dog “Pine”, Lt. Col. Connor Holmes, Lt. Col. Richard Forbes and Lt. Col. Tylan Self who are pictured with Rayburn Correctional Center’s K9 Commander, Col. Chesley Spears. 

Rayburn Correctional Center is grateful to Louisiana Department of Corrections Secretary James Leblanc, and Warden Travis Day for being given the opportunity to attend and compete in this prestigious event and for Raymond Laborde Correctional Center’s Warden Marcus Myers and his administration for hosting the event that builds camaraderie and knowledge for all who attend and compete.  

RCC's Chase Team Helps Find Fugitive in Walthall County

Earlier this month, Rayburn Correctional Center’s Chase Team assisted Walthall County Sheriff’s Office in the apprehension of a fugitive near Kokomo, Mississippi. 

Tracking Dogs “Biggie” and “Pine” led the team through heavily thick underbrush to the suspect. After a brief foot chase the suspect was taken into custody without incident and turned over to Walthall County Deputies. 

RCC’s K-9 members that assisted with the suspects apprehension are Tracking Dogs “Biggie” and “Pine”, Colonel Chesley Spears, Lt. Colonel Richard Forbes, Major Jacob Waskom, Major Mickey Dillon, Captain Jonathan Stringer and Lieutenant Patrick Magee. 

Suspect Apprehended After Intense Manhunt in Wooded Area Near Pine

After a rigorous manhunt in a densely wooded area east of Pine, the suspect 53 year-old Douglas Carter has been successfully apprehended. Carter was wanted on multiple charges, including Possession of stolen property (valued greater than $1,000 but less than $5,000), Resisting an officer with force or violence, Resisting an officer by fleeing on foot, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Fugitive from another jurisdiction (Walthall County Sheriff's Office).

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal expressed his gratitude towards Rayburn Correctional Center and their K-9 units, stating, "We want to extend our sincere thanks to RCC and their K-9 units. We greatly value the strong relationship we have with those professionals, knowing they are always just a phone call away. I'm continuously honored and proud of the men and women at WPSO. Their diligence this evening led to the swift capture of this criminal. These deputies are the reason our community remains safe tonight."

The successful apprehension of Douglas Carter is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office and the collaborative efforts with Rayburn Correctional Center. The safety and security of our community remain paramount, and this incident highlights the commitment of law enforcement to protect and serve the residents of Washington Parish.

RCC K9 Unit Officers Captures Murder Suspect in Pike County MS After Intense 3-hr Manhunt

Rayburn Correctional Center and the Pike County MS Sheriff's Office has reported on the capture of 37 year-old Rashan Danyale Smith, an escaped murder suspect in a recent homicide in Brookhaven, MS. The capture of Smith followed an intense three-hour manhunt outside Summit, MS on Tuesday (March 21, 2023) night that involved multiple law enforcement agencies: Pike County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Offices, McComb Police, Brookhaven Police, Summit Police, Southwest Mississippi Community College Police, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries, and dog teams from the Rayburn Correctional Center  and Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office as well as a helicopter from Mississippi Highway Patrol. 

Smith reportedly has a criminal history peppered with violence and the tendency to run from the law. He escaped police custody in Brookhaven in October, 2022 and was also accused of shooting and wounding a woman there in 2020.

On March 21, 2023, a McComb police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description posted in a BOLO traveling on North Locust Street and attempted to stop Smith, who fled. The pursuit continued on North Locust Street and to Horace Holmes Road, where Smith wrecked between Robb Street Extension and Robert Ayers Road just east of Summit. A heavy police presence descended on the area. RCC's K-9s were able to pick-up a scent trail from a dropped handgun and lost shoe. RCC officers apprehended the suspect without incident in a wooded area just south of Southwest Mississippi Community College. 

Pike County Sheriff Brumfield expressed his thanks to all agencies involved.

RCC Warden Travis Day stated, “In my opinion, RCC K-9 Unit is an elite group. Their pride, dedication, consistency and training make them one of the best tracking groups in the Southeastern United States.”

RCC K-9 Unit Locates Man Wanted by WPSO

Rayburn Correctional Center reported Monday (June 20, 2022) that on June 14, 2022, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the RCC K-9 Unit received a call for assistance from the Washington Parish Sheriff Office. 

RCC personnel reported to the intersection of George Mitchell and Cora Williams Road in Bogalusa to help search for a suspect wanted by the Washington Parish Drug Task Force. Sheriff's investigators advised that the wanted man was seen running through a yard and jumped a fence. RCC K-9 officers deployed tracking dogs Jed and Biggie, who followed the scent trail for approximately 100 yards through wooded area before coming upon a yard full of tall grass and vines. The dogs continued following the track through the dense area, bringing the officers to the suspect, who was hidden under the dense vines and grass. RCC officers arrested the man and turned him over to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office. 

Thank you to the RCC K-9 Officers and personnel for your continued hard work and dedicated service to the community. Officers: Capt. Jonathan Stringer, Lt. Col. Chesley Spears, Deputy Warden Keith Bickham, Lt. Col. Richard Forbes, Captain Mickey Dillon, Warden Travis Day, and Major Tylan Self,

Rayburn Correctional Center’s K-9 Team Wins 1st Place

Rayburn Correctional Center’s K-9 Team competed in the Louisiana Department of Corrections  Manhunt Field Trials this week at Camp Beauregard in Alexandria and earned First Place. 

Trials consisted of two tracks. The first was a day trail, 2 hours old and 1 mile long. The second was a night trail, 1.5 hours old and 1 mile long. Each trail contained 4 articles. One minute was deducted from the team’s final time for each article found. Nine teams competed, eight from correctional facilities in Louisiana and one from Florida. The final times from each trial were used to determine the team’s final average time. 

Rayburn Correctional Center’s K-9 Team came in 1st place with an average time of 15 minutes 21 seconds, followed by the team from Florida and then David Wade Correctional Center. CONGRATULATIONS RCC K-9 TEAM!

Pictured are Lt. Col. Richie Forbes, Capt. Jonathan Stringer, and Capt. Mickey Dillon with tracking dogs Bandit and Banjo.

RCC K-9 Unit Helps Apprehend Walthall County Burglary Suspect

Yesterday (March 17, 2022) Rayburn Correctional Center’s K-9 Unit assisted Walthall County Sheriff’s Office with the apprehension of a suspect who they had been in pursuit of for 2 days. The suspect was wanted for multiple local resident burglaries. The suspect was tracked for over 2 miles through dense terrain and apprehended without incident. 

Pictured left to right: Major Tylan Self, Colonel Darryl Mizell, Captain Mickey Dillon, Lt. Colonel Chesley Spears, Lt. Colonel Richard Forbes, Captain Jonathan Stringer, Master Sgt. Ron Taylor, and Warden Travis Day. Also pictured are tracking dogs “Jed” and “Ranger”.

The Walthall County Sheriff's Office posted a statement, “This group is always willing to help us. It’s good when agencies from two different states have such a good working relationship. Another burglary suspect is in jail. Thanks Guys!”

WPSO Captures MS. Fugitive After Chase and RCC K-9 Assist

Last Tuesday (March 8, 2022), Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives traveled to Robert Sumrall Road in an attempt to locate 27 year-old Tanner Hughes, who was supposedly staying at a residence there. Hughes was a wanted fugitive from the state of Mississippi for trafficking in stolen firearms, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine and burglary.

As the officers drove into the yard of the residence, they observed Hughes as he fled on foot into adjacent woods. They pursued him on foot but were unable to overtake him. The canine team from Rayburn Correctional Center responded to the scene and was able to locate Hughes, who was then taken into custody and transported to the Washington Parish Jail. While being transported to jail, Hughes physically damaged the interior of the Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

Hughes was booked into the jail on the fugitive charges from Mississippi in addition to local charges of fleeing from an officer and criminal damage to property. His bond on the local charges was set at $3,500. If he is able to post bond on those charges, he will not be released, except to the custody of Mississippi authorities.

“The visit to his girlfriend on Robert Sumrall Road did not work out for him,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “I’m pleased he was taken into custody and we are always ready to assist other jurisdictions when a fugitive is in Washington Parish. Once again, the Rayburn Correctional Center’s canine team provided valuable assistance.”

RCC K-9 Unit Helps Locate Parish Senior Citizen

Rayburn Correctional Center reported yesterday (January 6, 2022) that RCC's K-9 Unit responded to the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office's request for help in locating a senior citizen who wandered from her home in the Stoney Point Community around 2 a.m. The RCC K-9 Unit deployed tracking dogs “Jed” & “Biggie.” The K-9 unit located the senior citizen on Highway 10 and provided care until EMS arrived. 

Pictured (Top Row) are Capt. Mickey Dillon, Col. Darryl Mizell, MSgt. Ron Taylor and (Bottom Row)  Maj. Tylan Self with Biggie, and Lt. Col. Richie Forbes with “Jed”. 

Great job, Team! Thank you for your service to the community!