Former Cop Pleads Not Guilty In K9's Death

CANTON, GA -- The former Cherokee County School Police Department officer whose canine partner died in a hot car over the summer has pleaded not guilty to charges he is facing.

Daniel Wood Peabody on Thursday entered not guilty pleas to two counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of making a false statement, said Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace.

Wallace added Peabody's attorney, David Willingham, has filed a motion to quash the indictment. That motion, Wallace stated, has yet to be heard by the court.

Peabody, a former lieutenant with the school police department, was charged by the Cherokee County Marshal's Office in connection to the death of his partner, K9 Inka.

A motion filed by the District Attorney's Office also seeks to clarify the conditions of bond imposed by the court. Those conditions stipulate Peabody is not allowed to transport dogs, along with not taking part in any end-of-life decisions regarding any domestic animal and possessing a firearm or occupying a home or vehicle containing a firearm.

The motion states that on Saturday, Oct. 9, Peabody was "in a vehicle that transported a dog" to Home Depot on Riverstone Parkway in Canton. Additionally, video of this incident "does not have sufficient resolution to determine if the defendant or his wife was driving the vehicle," the motion reads.

Court documents do not indicate if a hearing for that motion has been scheduled.

The aggravated animal cruelty charges against Peabody stem from accusations that he left Inka in a patrol car with no ventilation while the engine was off, which resulted in the dog's death in June from a heat stroke. The car was not properly equipped to transport police K9's, as it did not have an agency-approved heat alarm or kennel system, the marshal's office previously said.

The false statement charge comes from Peabody allegedly informing investigators about the death of Dale, a yellow Labrador that was retired from the Cherokee school police department in 2012.

The agency received information about Dale after opening an investigation into Inka's death. Peabody, who was responsible for Dale's upkeep and care after his retirement, allegedly told investigators the dog's death was accidental and was caused by him choking on a toy, the marshal's office said.

However, Cherokee Chief Marshal Ron Hunton previously said the investigation "yielded evidence that Dale was in fact shot and killed by Peabody" after was retired from active service.

In another twist to the events, the marshal's office said remains of a third dog found on property formerly belonging to Peabody, did not belong to Dale. Those remains, the agency added, possibly belonged to Inka's grandmother, a Belgian Malinois owned by Peabody.

Dale's remains have not been recovered by authorities. Peabody worked with the Cherokee County School Police Department from 2000 to June 16 when he voluntarily resigned from the post.

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