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Criminals should think twice before they run from the law in Hillcrest, where even the neighbors' dogs participate in community policing. On the morning of September 22, Bruiser, a muscular tan and white American boxer, and his owner, Spencer Fisher, became heroes in their own back yard.
Officers Efrain Soto and Carol Dillard, of the 6th District Metropolitan Police, had just made a traffic stop that turned into a foot chase through Hillcrest, usually a quiet neighborhood in Southeast. After the stop, the passenger, armed with a handgun, jumped out and fled while the driver sped away.
The police officers, shouting, "He's got a gun," pursued the man on foot through streets, alleys and back yards of Hillcrest. Running through an alley, the suspect made a break for the street, climbing a fence and cutting through a back yard.
The yard, as luck would have it, was the domain of Bruiser, who has strong feelings about intruders. He was indoors at the time, having just finished a walk with his owner, Fisher.
Hearing the commotion, Fisher looked out his kitchen window and saw the man climb the fence into his yard, then trip over flower boxes, dropping the gun. Fisher released a very anxious Bruiser into the yard, ordering, "Get him," hoping to delay the man long enough for officers to apprehend him.
Bruiser reached the fugitive as he began scaling the gate, grabbed a pant leg but was a little too late to get a good grip. Seeing that the man was about to escape, Fisher decided to take action himself. He tackled the man as they went over the gate into the front yard, then held him until officers arrived. Page 1 of 2  1 2 
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