The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of a K9 officer who drowned Wednesday while trying to capture a suspect on the run.

On Wednesday, Deputy B.J. Johnson and his partner, K9 Vigor, were tracking a wanted man through the Cherokee National Forest in Tellico Plains.

The deputies had to cross a river in their pursuit, and the strong current over powered both Deputy Johnson and Vigor.

The rapids pulled Vigor under, and Johnson’s backup officers found the K9 downstream and immediately performed CPR on Vigor to no avail.

The department mourns their sergeant’s best friend, and Johnson tries to stay on track, to focus on the job–  like Vigor.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says Doug Ellis is in custody. Ellis was arrested Friday night without incident.

He was wanted for a violation of probation on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and evading arrest.