Policeman and dog get bravery award for catching robbers

[dutchman]

A hero policeman and his dog single-handedly nabbed a gang of knife-wielding robbers at a Coventry hotel.



Dog handler PC Scott Moulsher and his German Shepherd Aztec have won a bravery award for defying the odds to arrest three armed raiders.

They were confronted by the knifemen when they attended a 999 call at the Chace Hotel in London Road, Willenhall.

PC Moulsher, who is based at Canley Police Station, has just received a Chief Constable’s commendation for bravery.

Speaking of the late-night incident, PC Moulsher told the Telegraph: “When I got to the hotel someone was shouting out of a loft window that they thought they were being robbed and they believed the robbers were still in there.

“I went into the foyer of the hotel with the dog and was confronted by a masked man. There was a bit of a stand off and he ran off around the corner.

“We followed and saw another two men and a member of staff sat in a chair, bleeding from his head. From that point we realised what was going on. One of them said to the other ‘show him the knife’. I was shouting and the dog was barking and he pulled out some sort of knife.”

PC Moulsher explained all three robbers were stood behind the hotel’s reception desk. He and Aztec attempted to keep them there until back-up arrived. When one made a break for it through a side door, the city officer kicked it shut. As another tried to jump over the desk, Aztec leapt forward towards him and kept him back.

When one of the men eventually jumped over the desk, PC Moulsher, who has been a dog handler for 12 years, let Aztec off his lead.

PC Moulsher followed his dog, as procedure, and found him outside with a firm grip of the robber’s leg – his first ‘bite’ since becoming a police dog.

By this time other police officers had arrived at the scene.

As the other robbers fled the hotel in April, one climbed a tree and another attempted to hide in a bush. All three were arrested, charged and later jailed for armed robbery.

PC Moulsher served in the Royal Navy before joining West Midlands Police 19 years ago. As well as Aztec, who he has worked with since he was an eight-month-old puppy, PC Moulsher also works with two drugs dogs called Ross and Oscar. All three police dogs live with him and his family at home, along with pet dog Snoopy.

PC Moulsher added: “We were just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. It was a once in a career job.

“I was really, really happy to receive the award. It was great for my two young children too. Aztec also received lots of praise.”