‘Rest easy our protector’: K-9 deputy dies after getting overheated while tracking suspect

MADISON COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV/Gray News) - A K-9 deputy in Florida died after getting overheated while tracking a suspect.

Madison County Sheriff David Harper shared the news of K-9 Deputy Archer’s passing.

Deputies said 6-year-old Archer was hospitalized after getting overheated while playing an important role in capturing a suspect Thursday.

It all started when several deputies were dispatched to pursue a man who allegedly ran away from a traffic stop, WCTV reported.

A deputy attempted to pull the suspect over after clocking him speeding on the interstate.

However, the suspect didn’t stop, instead, he took an exit, pulled down a dirt road and crashed the car into a bunch of trees.

That’s when the driver, along with the passenger, ditched the car and ran into the woods.

Ultimately, the sheriff’s office deployed a drone and K-9 Archer, who led them to capture the driver in some trees.

Harper thanked Archer for his unwavering commitment to the community, and he also thanked the medical professionals who cared for the K-9 deputy in his final moments.

“Rest easy our protector, we will continue to hold the line in your honor,” Harper wrote.

The 6-year-old had been with MCSO for about 5 years.