Ex-school police officer indicted in death of two K-9s

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The former Cherokee County School District police officer who was arrested for the deaths of two police K-9s was indicted this week.

The Cherokee County District Attorney said former School Police Lt. Dan Peabody was indicted on two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and making a false statement.

One of the aggravated cruelty to animal charges comes after Peabody left his partner, K-9 Inca, in his patrol car with no ventilation while the engine was off on June 10. A necropsy performed by the University of Georgia found that the dog died from heat stroke. Chief Marshal Ron Hunton said the patrol car was not properly equipped to transport a police K-9 because it didn’t have an agency-approved kennel or heat alarm system.

The second cruelty to animal charge and the false statement charge is in connection to the death of another police dog, Dale, a yellow lab who was retired from K-9 duty by Cherokee County Police in 2012. Police turned the care of Dale over to Peabody after the dog’s retirement, after being assigned to Peabody from 2007 until 2012. Cherokee Marshal’s Office investigators along with investigators with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the former home of Peabody and animal remains believed to be those of a dog were recovered. Peabody initially claimed Dale’s death was accidental due to Dale choking on a toy. But Chief Hunton said the investigation found evidence Dale was shot and killed by Peabody at his Paulding County home shortly after Dale retired from service.

Lt. Peabody resigned from the CCSD School Police Department on June 16.

If convicted, Peabody could serve one to five years in prison and be fined up to $15,000.