A police dog named Yoda had a significant role to play when it came to apprehending convicted murderer Danilo Cavalcante on Wednesday after the latter escaped from a Pennsylvania prison back in August and had evaded capture for 2 weeks.

Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police during a news conference Wednesday said that Yoda’s role in the massive manhunt, involving the US Border Patrol Strike Team, was crucial as he essentially prevented Cavalcante from using a stolen rifle in his possession as he hid under leaves and bushes on top of the firearm.

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“He was just essential as far as the tracking and searching, as were numerous other K-9s that were here,” Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US Marshal for Pennsylvania’s eastern district, told CNN on Wednesday. “All these K-9 resources were utilized by different tactical teams from the area, and they were just incredible resources.”

Two tactical teams moved in on Cavalcante at around 8 a.m. in a wooded Pennsylvania area. Yoda belonged to the US Border Patrol Tactical Unit stationed out of Michigan. As soon as the teams could see Cavalcante’s head peeking through the underbrush, they released a police dog who bit and subdued the escaped prisoner.

Thanks to Yoda, the entire operation could be completed in around five minutes. Cavalcante was sleeping when he was found by the police so he was taken by surprise. He did try to flee and evade arrest by crawling through the thick underbrush with the stolen rifle. Before upgrading to deadly force, the tactical team decided to deploy Yoda.

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According to Clark, Yoda is a “bite and hold” police dog. The dog has been trained to hold down an individual until commanded to release the hold. Yoda bit Cavalcante on his scalp and then bit him again in the “lower extremity area” in order to keep him down, Clark said.

“When the dog got to him, he then went flat with the dog on him – the dog was able to detain him there,” Bivens said. “I was told the rifle was within arm’s length.”

He was then forcibly taken into police custody as he continued to resist.