"He's our star," Sgt. Joe DePrima said. "He makes a few really outstanding arrests every year."

Police arrested 21-year-old Justin Gorman of Redwood City on April 26 at 9:55 a.m. in the parking lot of the Los Gatos Lodge at 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road for allegedly driving a stolen car. Gorman was handcuffed and placed in one patrol car, and his passenger, 22-year-old Bryan Martin of Santa Cruz, was arrested and placed in another.

Officers left Gorman in the vehicle while conducting their investigation. He reportedly made his way into the driver's seat and fled north on Highway 17 shortly after 11 a.m. He exited at Camden Avenue in Campbell and abandoned the vehicle after it struck a water main on Camden.

Police pursued Gorman on the freeway at speeds approaching 110 mph, according to DePrima, but lost him when he fled on foot in the area of White Oaks Drive and Camden Avenue. Officers from the San Jose and Campbell police departments, the California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force assisted in searching for him.

Around noon, Officer Sam Wonnell of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno force arrived with Quarz, his K-9 unit. After searching a nearby convalescent hospital to be sure Gorman was not hiding out there, Wonnell swabbed the steering wheel of the stolen police car and had Quarz smell it. He then gave the command to find him. Within minutes, the canine located Gorman hiding in the back of a U-Haul truck.

Wonnell said Quarz is an invaluable partner. They have shared a patrol car for nearly six years.

"He wears a badge just like I do," Wonnell said. "His tool is his nose."

In addition to searching for suspects of crimes, Quarz can help find missing children and adults, as well as drugs. The four-legged officer also helps Wonnell in his role as a school resource officer.

"He helps break down the barrier with the kids," he said.

Three other people suspected of stealing cars were also arrested April 26 by Los Gatos police: Charles Nelson, 24, of Soquel; Chana Orescan, 18, of Santa Cruz; and Lisa Troutner, 18, of Aptos. Police located three stolen vehicles as a result, and believe the suspects may be associated with one another.