Fremont police K9 found hours after escaping San Jose yard

A Fremont police dog in training was found Sunday morning hours after he escaped from his yard in San Jose, officials said.

Niko, a 16-month-old, 85-pound German Shepherd police K9, escaped his secured yard in San Jose’s Willow Glen area sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday and midnight, the Fremont Police Department said in a press release. He was found in a creek bed by San Jose police officers, who were searching for Niko along with Fremont police, on Sunday.

Before he was found, the agency had started a hashtag on Twitter — #BringK9NikoHome — and tweeted a picture of Niko on Sunday morning.

Niko joined the department a few weeks ago.