Officer Charged After K-9 Left in Car Dies

San Juan Police Officer Juan Cerrillo Jr. has been charged with animal cruelty after his police dog died when left alone in his cruiser.

Source The Dallas Morning News

June 8, 2016

San Juan Police Officer Juan Cerrillo Jr.

SAN JUAN, Texas -- A South Texas officer has been charged with animal cruelty after his police dog died when left alone in his cruiser.

McAllen police said in a statement that they responded after Juan Cerrillo Jr., an officer in neighboring San Juan, reported leaving the dog unattended in the car Thursday evening.

The dog, a Belgian Malinois, was dead by the time police arrived.

Cerrillo, 37, was arrested and released Saturday morning, KGBT-TV reports. He has been charged with one count of cruelty to a non-livestock animal, a Class A misdemeanor.

“It was an unfortunate accident,” San Juan City Manager Ben Arjona said.

San Juan police officials did not comment on the incident, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Tribune News Service