Burglary suspects caught by police dogs

CLEARWATER -- A police dog helped capture three burglary suspects who hid from deputies at a salvage yard early today, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

An employee of Don's Salvage Yard, at 5601 126th Ave. N near Clearwater, heard an alarm as he spent the night at the business. When deputies arrived, the employee noticed that scrap metal had been moved outside the property. Deputies figured the suspects were still there.

Police dog Tonka searched the area and pulled 44-year-old Pablo Malvin Iglesias, of 2005 N. 34th Street, Tampa , from underneath a tarp near a trash bin. A second suspect, Miguel Almeida-Fournerie, 29, 3205 3rd Street East, Bradenton, came out from the tarp and turned himself in. The dog signaled to handlers that another man was hiding, and deputies warned the final suspect to come out. Tonka caught Julio Herrera Fernandez, 2923 Columbus Drive, Tampa, 18.

The dog caused head and arm injuries to Iglesias and Fernandez. They were treated at North Side Hospital.

In interviews with deputies, the suspects admitted to driving a pickup onto the property and hiding it to use in the theft. The marine scrap metal that was moved outside the property weighed about 1,000 pounds and is worth about $5,000 to $7,000. The three were charged with commercial burglary, grand theft, trespass, and possession of burglary tools.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer