Springfield K-9 Officer Scott Stelzer, aided by 4-legged partner, arrest Adrian Velez, 26, after he allegedly punched girlfriend

K-9 Officer Scott Stelzer and his partner, Blek, began patrolling city streets this week.

SPRINGFIELD -- One of the city's newly trained K-9 officers and his dog participated in the arrest of a 26-year-old North End man early Tuesday after they allegedly saw him punching his girlfriend at the couple's Osgood Street home.

Police had just dropped the suspect off at that address about ten minutes before after he suffered a minor injury in a one-car accident that was reported about 3:30 a.m. at Main and Bond streets, Sgt. John M. Delaney said.

Delaney said that upon arriving home the suspect, Adrian Velez, of 64B Osgood St., began arguing with his girlfriend. Though she was not in the car at the time at the time of the accident, Delaney said, Velez blamed her for the crash. Police were summoned to the home.

When officers Juan Hernandez and Angel Marrero arrived on the scene they saw the suspect striking the woman, said Delaney, aide to Commissioner William J. Fitchet.

As the officers moved in to make an arrest, Velez pushed Hernandez with both fists and fled toward Allendale Street.

Although the two officers lost sight of the suspect, K-9 Officer Scott Stelzer arrived on the scene and his partner, Blek, was able to pick up the scent. When the pair found Velez under a front porch at 23 Brookline Ave., the suspect refused to come out. Police told the suspect that if he did not come out, Blek would be released. “Mr. Velez came out from his hiding place right away,” Delaney said. “He was arrested without further incident.” Velez was charged with domestic assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. Stelzer and Blek, one of the department’s four newly-trained K-9 units, began patrolling city streets this week and the incident marked Stelzer’s first arrest as a K-9 officer.