A Mississippi K9 is being celebrated as a lifesaving hero after an ambush on Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Frazier nearly turned fatal. The deputy, who was patrolling a rest stop off Highway 603, was brutally attacked by three assailants in what authorities believe was a premeditated assault. If not for the swift and fearless actions of his K9 partner, Lucas, the outcome could have been tragic.
It was just after dark when Deputy Frazier noticed a suspicious blue Lincoln Town Car with a dark vinyl top parked alone at the isolated rest stop. The vehicle’s lights were off, and the silhouette of a lone figure sat in the driver’s seat. Trusting his instincts, Frazier exited his patrol car to investigate. But as he approached, the situation took a sudden and violent turn.
“Two individuals came out of the woods beside the car,” Sherriff Ricky Adam later explained. “He was completely caught off guard. When he backed up, he lost his footing, and they jumped him.”
Deputy Frazier was overpowered. The attackers beat him and slashed him with a box cutter. According to Chief Deputy Don Bass, the men made their intentions horrifyingly clear. “They told him they were going to slit his throat, and they started dragging him into the woods,” Bass told reporters.
But they didn’t count on Lucas.
With blood on his face and fading strength, Frazier managed to activate a button on his duty belt—an emergency release that instantly unlocked and opened the door of his patrol vehicle, unleashing his K9 partner.
Lucas, a black Belgian Malinois trained for moments exactly like this, surged from the car and charged into the chaos. Barking furiously, teeth bared, he tore into the attackers with no hesitation. Sheriff Adam reported that Lucas bit at least one, possibly two of the suspects during the melee.
“We don’t know exactly how many he got, but when it was over, Lucas was covered in blood,” Adam said.
The sudden fury of the K9’s attack forced the suspects to flee. The ambush was over, and Lucas had saved his partner’s life. A manhunt was quickly launched, with local law enforcement and neighboring agencies scouring the woods and surrounding areas in search of the three suspects.
Deputy Frazier was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for his injuries, including lacerations from the box cutter and multiple bruises. While shaken, he survived—thanks to his four-legged partner’s courage and training.
“Lucas did exactly what he was supposed to do,” said Chief Deputy Bass. “He wasn’t just a deterrent that night—he was a warrior.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and prompted renewed conversation about the dangers officers face—even during routine patrols—and the critical role that K9 units play in protecting their human partners.
Lucas has since returned to duty, but not without recognition. Sheriff Adam confirmed the department is recommending Lucas for a commendation, and the community has rallied around him with admiration and gratitude.
“He didn’t just save a deputy that night,” said Sheriff Adam. “He saved a son, a father, a friend—and he reminded all of us why these dogs are more than just tools. They’re heroes.”
