10/09/2026
Benton County K-9 Team Brings Rapid End to Violent Home-Invasion attempt in Sky Village
Sergeant Burns and Dual-purpose K-9 Rydor, recently certified in tracking and apprehension; locates and apprehends fleeing suspect in just 13 minutes after homeowner and family endure a violent and attempted forced entry of their home.
BENTON COUNTY, MO. A Sky Village family spent twenty dangerous minutes on the evening of October 5, 2026, defending themselves from a violent intruder before Benton County Sheriff Deputy’s, Missouri Highway Patrol Troopers and Benton County’s newest K-9 team ensured the incident ended with the suspect in handcuffs rather than further tragedy.
At 5:15 p.m., Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a male subject was stealing property and attempting to force entry into a residence on Harley Highway while the homeowners were inside. Over the next twenty minutes, the subject's actions posed a serious and escalating threat to the household. Having damaged vehicles, breaking windows of the residence, destroying yard ornaments, and damaging residential utility services all while verbally challenging the homeowner and making repeated attempts to force his way into the home.
With no safe way out, the family took shelter in interior rooms of the residence. Homeowner Robert Shoemaker armed himself and stood by, prepared to use lethal force to defend himself and family had the suspect made entry. For twenty minutes, this family faced the genuine possibility of a violent confrontation inside their own home.
At 5:35 p.m., Benton County deputies and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers arrived on scene. Just before law enforcement arrival, the suspect fled on foot into a dense wood line. Deputies and Troop immediately established a perimeter, and Sergeant Burns deployed K-9 Rydor to track the suspect, a task that placed the K-9 team directly in the path of a suspect who, minutes earlier, had shown complete disregard for the safety of everyone around him.
K-9 Rydor and Sergeant Burns recently completed six weeks of intensive training and certification as a dual-purpose law enforcement K-9 team, qualifying in narcotics detection, tracking, apprehension, and protection. A K-9 resource made possible by the community and Friends of the Benton County Sheriff. This incident marked a real-world test of that training and our K-9 team passed decisively.
At 5:48 p.m., just thirteen minutes into the track, K-9 Rydor located the suspect crouched in the woods. Sergeant Burns issued multiple verbal commands, but the suspect refused to comply. After several warnings, Sergeant Burns deployed K-9 Rydor, who immediately took the suspect to the ground assisting Deputies and troopers in taking James Ledbetter into custody without further resistance.
Ledbetter was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of bites sustained during the apprehension and has since been formally charged with the felony counts of 1st Degree Property Damage and Resisting/Interfering Arrest for Felony.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office thanks the Troopers of the Missouri State Highway Patrol for their rapid response and their role in securing the perimeter, which was critical to containing the area and enabling a swift, safe apprehension. The Office also commends the Shoemaker family. Under extreme fear and pressure, they kept their composure, protected one another, and provided responding deputies with a description and direction of travel; information that directly contributed to the success of the track and apprehension of Ledbetter.
The performance of all law enforcement and exclusively Sergeant Burns and K-9 Rydor reflects exactly what any Law enforcement and K-9 teams are trained to do, and Benton County is fortunate to have K-9 Rydor and grateful to those who made it possible. Anyone who chooses to commit crimes in Benton County, especially against our residents in their own homes, should understand that Benton County Deputy’s will be there and our K-9 team is trained, certified, and ready to answer the call.
