A Prince William police officer and his K9 partner have both received a special honor.
Officer Bill VanAntwerp and Hawkeye were honored by the United States Police Canine Association Region 3 with the Case of the Year Award.
The case they were recognized for happened on December 15.
Both VanAntwerp and Hawkeye were called to a home where a man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle was threatening to kill himself, according to the canine association.
Negotiators worked for six hours with the man to convince him to surrender.
But the man on several occasions walked outside of the house in plain view of police with two handguns tucked into his waistband, and had the assault rifle in hand, the association reports.
The man walked back inside his home, and police tossed gas canisters into the house forcing the man back outside.
The man walked toward police and ignored their commands, and was later wrestled to the ground by Hawkeye. Police also used a taser weapon on the man, according to the canine association.
While the transmitters on the taser broke rendering the weapon useless, VanAntwerp was later able to move in and place the man into restraints and make an arrest.
“K9 Hawkeye’s performance under stress enabled an armed and suicidal subject to be safely taken into custody without injury to the officers involved,” stated a press release from the canine association.
Officials said the dog was not affected by the gas or the taser.
