MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake patrol sergeant has been dubbed a “two-legged bloodhound” by police officials after reportedly finding a stolen gun used in an assault that even a K9 unit had failed to locate the day prior.

On Friday night MLPD officers reportedly responded to a call of an assault on Central Drive after receiving a report that a male had allegedly attempted to pistol whip another male before fleeing on foot.

With the help of members of the community, MLPD officers were reportedly able to locate the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Adolfo Chavez Moso, in the Knolls Vista neighborhood, where he was taken into custody. Chavez Moso reportedly did not have the firearm with him at the time of his arrest.

K9 Grizzly, a unit with the Grant County Sheriff’s office, was deployed to assist officers, who back-tracked Chavez Moso’s path. The gun was not recovered on Friday, however.

The next day, the day shift sergeant was Dean Gaddis, who is renowned at the MLPD for his dogged detective work, according to a statement by the MLPD.

On Saturday morning Sgt. Gaddis reportedly re-traced Chavez Moso’s steps and was able to locate the firearm Chavez Moso had allegedly dumped in the bushes in front of a residence.

The firearm had been previously reported as stolen. Chavez Moso has repeated felony offenses on his criminal record, according to the MLPD.

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com