Bela and Detective Joe Angarone finished 7th overall and 4th in room search at the National Scent Trials.
MERCER COUNTY -- Nervous energy flowed through the National Scent Trials in Philadelphia earlier this month as K-9s and their handlers awaited a chance to place in the competition.
Mercer County Prosecutor's Office K-9, Bela, and her handler, Detective Joe Angarone went through the three-day training to prepare for this moment, so when the pair took seventh overall and fourth in room searches, it was a rewarding moment for the team.
"It is important because it's a great accomplishment for her," said Angarone, a Hamilton resident. "Not many teams from New Jersey compete in the national trials because it's usually pretty far away. This year, it was close, so there were about seven or eight teams from New Jersey."
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Bela, a five-year-old Beligan Malinois, and Angarone took seventh overall out of 38 teams from across the country, scoring a 196 out of 200.
The two placed fourth overall in room searches with a score of 99 out of 100, after Bela combed through three rooms in search of items.
Bela, who came to the police force from Ontario, Canada, has worked with Angarone since she was 3 months old and has been worked with the prosecutor's office for more than four years.
In that time, she has been responsible for finding $3 million in drugs and the recovery of $2 million cash.
After the promising finish, Angarone plans on taking Bela to next year's tournament, which he said will likely be held in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"I'm in it to win it," Angarone said.
Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.