(Above Photo) David Lee, left, owner and manager of Ford of Murfreesboro, presents an engraved watch to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Cpl. David Ashburn and a dog tag to K-9 Venture, as Officers of the Month. At right is Sgt. Chris Kauffman, who nominated Cpl. Ashburn.
Capturing three dangerous and violent offenders in 24 days resulted in a Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office corporal and his K-9 earning Officer of the Month honors in April from Ford of Murfreesboro.
This is the first time a K-9 received an Officer of the Month award from Ford of Murfreesboro.
Sheriff Robert Arnold said as a result of Cpl. Ashburn’s and Venture’s actions, three extremely violent offenders were taken off the streets.
“Cpl. Ashburn is a true professional dedicated to the citizens of Rutherford County,” Sheriff Arnold said.
To recognize his efforts, David Lee, owner and manager of Ford of Murfreesboro, presented an engraved watch to Cpl. David Ashburn as Officer of the Month. He presented Venture with a special sterling dog tag engraved with his name as K9 Officer of the Month, April 2013.
Lee commended Cpl. Ashburn and Venture for their bravery.
“Cpl. Ashburn and Venture are truly amazing examples of dedicated and talented law enforcement in our community,” Lee said. “Thank you for your unwavering efforts and dedication.”
The corporal and his K-9 Venture responded to a call where a suspect allegedly stabbed a cab driver in the neck during a robbery April 1 on Northfield Boulevard, reported Sgt. Chris Kauffman. Venture led Cpl. Ashburn and cover officers to a field near Burnwood Trailer Park on Wenlon Drive and to a mobile home.
A man covered in blood and matching the description of the robber surrendered to Cpl. Ashburn and cover officers. The suspect was charged with criminal attempted homicide and especially aggravated robbery.
In the second case, Cpl. Ashburn responded to a pursuit April 8 from Murfreesboro into Rutherford County involving a suspect accused of kidnapping a woman he tried to put into the trunk and dragging her with his vehicle. The pursuit led into Cannon County where the suspect wrecked at the intersection of Bradyville Pike and Highway 64 before crashing and fleeing the scene.
Cpl. Ashburn and Venture tracked the suspect to an open field where he located the suspect running about 200 yards away. The suspect was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, felony theft and felony evading arrest in a motor vehicle.
In a third case, Cannon County Sheriff Darrell Young requested the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office’s Felony Arrest Search Tactical Team to help arrest a suspect who fired about eight rounds at his deputies about 1:30 a.m. April 24.
Rutherford County Sheriff Arnold activated the FAST Team to help arrest the suspect wanted on a domestic assault case. The suspect was a Marine who served two tours of combat as an infantryman in Iraq, who was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Cpl. Ashburn, who is a FAST Team member, and Venture, supported by a five-man element of the team, traveled 100 yards down a fence line and crossed the fence into an open pasture, Sgt. Kauffman reported. Venture apprehended the agitated suspect hiding in tall grass. He was charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated domestic assault, two counts of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Sgt. Kauffman said Cpl. Ashburn’s dedication is without question.
“Cpl. Ashburn and Venture train countless hours and their hard work and dedication has definitely developed them into an excellent K-9 team,” Sgt. Kauffman said.
