On May 18, 2015, assailants ambushed Deputy Todd Frazier on a dark stretch of highway outside Pearlington, Mississippi. Thankfully, Frazier had backup with him: his K-9 partner, Lucas.
The men attacked Frazier while he was investigating a Lincoln Town Car that was parked by itself at a rest stop. As he walked up to the car, the man in the car got out and two men ran out of the woods. All three of them assaulted Frazier.
“They told him they were going to slit his throat, and they were dragging him toward the woods,” Chief Deputy Don Bass told The Clarion-Ledger.
As the men dragged Frazier towards the woods, he was able to get one hand free. He used his free hand to press a button on his belt that opened the door to his K-9 unit.
Lucas jumped out of the K-9 unit and immediately starting biting the men who were trying to drag Frazier to the woods. The men fled in the Town Car, and Frazier was able to call for backup.
Frazier suffered a cut to his forehead and multiple bodily injuries. Doctors think the cuts were made from a box cutter. All four of Lucas’ canine teeth broke during the attack, and he tore his ACL. Thankfully, both of them have recovered from their injuries.
Lucas received a number of awards for his actions, including PETA’s heroic dog award. Brookhaven Animal Rescue League also gave Lucas their Hero of the Year Award for 2015. When Frazier was accepting the award, he talked about Lucas’ heroic actions.
“I had three people on me and I’m not a very big man, and they basically whipped my butt,” Frazier said. “And luckily thank God I had Lucas here, and I had a button on my belt that I wear, and when I hit the button Lucas jumped out of the car and attacked all three of them and they ran away. That’s why he’s my hero.”
A year after the ambush, the Sun Herald revisited the case. They learned that the attackers had still not been found.
“It’s still an open case, but we have no leads,” Sherriff Ricky Adam told the Sun Herald. “We chased leads for weeks, from Biloxi to New Orleans East. Cars would match the description, people would call in, but nothing panned out.”
The Sun Herald also learned that Deputy Frazier was doing very well. After the attack, he and Lucas both retired from the force, and Frazier took Lucas home with him. Frazier began pursuing his lifelong passion: dog training. He started a K-9 training business called TLB K-9 Enterprises, and he helps K-9 dogs learn the skills that Lucas used to save him.
Frazier and Lucas also participate in FEMA search and rescue operations. Lucas goes into buildings and searches for people who are trapped. He then barks to let FEMA rescuers know that he found someone who needs help.
Lucas is a brave and heroic dog who has saved many lives, including his owner’s. This amazing pup truly shows why dogs are known as man’s best friend.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
