Bond Set For Former Cop Charged In Deaths of Police K-9s

CANTON, GA -- The former lieutenant with the Cherokee County School Police Department charged in connection to the deaths of two police K-9's can now bond out of jail.

That's according to Cherokee Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lt. Jay Baker, who said Daniel Peabody appeared before a Cherokee County Magistrate Court judge Thursday afternoon at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

The judge formally set the bond amount at $22,400.

Peabody, 50, is charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals and one count of making false statements.

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The aggravated cruelty to animal charge, Cherokee Chief Marshal Ron Hunton said, stems from Peabody leaving his partner, K-9 Inka, in a patrol car "with no ventilation while the engine was off, which resulted in the death of the K-9 from a heat stroke."

The car was not properly equipped to transport police K-9's, as it did not have an agency-approved heat alarm or kennel system.

The felony false statement charge derives from Peabody informing marshal's office investigators about the death of Dale, a yellow Labrador who was retired from the Cherokee County School Police Department in 2012.

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

"However, the investigation yielded evidence that Dale was in fact shot and killed by Peabody at his Paulding County home shortly after Dale was retired from active service," Hunton added.

On June 20, marshal's office investigators and their counterparts with the Paulding County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Peabody's former home, and animal remains believed to be those of a dog were recovered from the property, Hunton stated.

Those remains are being analyzed to determine dog's the breed and cause of death.

Dale was assigned to Peabody from 2007 to 2012, and investigators believe he was about 6 years old at the time of his death.

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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Image via Cherokee County Adult Detention Center