Credit: Horsham Township Police Department.
When Horsham Township Police Department’s K-9 Mac and his handler Detective Kimberly Ngo recovered a cell phone in a park in Norristown, it was the big break law enforcement was looking for in a 2024 homicide case.
On Jan. 20, 2024, 35-year-old William Carter was shot and killed during a robbery in Norristown. Detectives believed that Carter’s cell phone was taken by suspects during the robbery and dumped in a park in the Norristown area.
Detective Ngo and K-9 Mac went out to survey the area, but initially did not find the cell phone. However, she came back with a better search plan, and eventually recovered the cell phone with her partner.
“Mac and Kim went out, I believe it was January day, it was freezing cold, and they couldn’t find it,” Horsham Lt. Larry Bozzomo said. “And then Kim came back and working with the law enforcement personnel, came up with a better search plan. Mac sniffed out the victim’s cell phone.”
Three men were eventually convicted in the slaying. Damon Brantley Jr., 18 and Daquan Allen, 29, both of Norristown, along with Jerry Butler, 28, of Philadelphia, were all found guilty by a jury.
For their efforts, Detective Ngo and K-9 Mac were honored by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, and Horsham Township recently took the time to recognize that achievement at the June Horsham Township Council meeting.
"Council recognized Horsham Police Detective, Kimberly Ngo and K9 Mac for recently being honored by Montgomery County District Attorney, Kevin Steele for their assistance in apprehending suspects in a robbery and homicide in Norristown," Horsham Township officials wrote in a post.
"Not only are we proud, but we are grateful for their continuous hard work and commitment to keeping our community safe," Horsham Township officials wrote in a statement.
Detective Ngo started with the Horsham Police Department in 2015 and quickly was promoted to the Detective Division in 2018, and has quickly earned a stellar reputation within the department.
“It was a pretty quick rise,” Lt. Bozzomo said. “If something happened to me personally, I’d want her investigating my case. “She’s an outstanding detective and good person.”
Detecive Ngo has been working with K-9 Mac since August 2023. Mac is Lab/Golden Retriever mix that specializes in detecting electronic storage devices such as cell phones, USB drives, SD cards, mini-SD cards, external hard drives, and hidden cameras.
K-9 Mac was trained by Jordan Detection K9 in Indiana and was acquired through donations from Operation Underground Railroad, The Asplundh Foundation, and State Rep. Melissa Cerrato.
