A former Cherokee schools officer arrested in connection with the deaths of two police dogs called the charges "absolutely baseless."
In a statement issued Thursday by Marietta attorney David R. Willingham, ex-officer Daniel Peabody asked the public “to withhold judgment and take false and distorted media reports with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
Peabody has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and making a false statement to investigators, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
A police dog named Inka died of heatstroke in June after Peabody left the dog in the back of his patrol car for more than two hours, the Cherokee marshal’s office said.
The investigation into Inka’s death produced evidence suggesting Peabody shot and killed another police dog named Dale, Cherokee officials said. Dale was in Peabody’s care from 2007 to 2012. The dog’s remains have not been found.
Peabody, 50, resigned from the Cherokee school system shortly after Inka’s death.
“Inka’s passing was a horrible and unintentional accident, one that has left Lieutenant Peabody completely devastated,” Willingham said in the statement. “As their vast network of friends, family and law enforcement colleagues will tell you, Lieutenant Peabody and his wife, Tyler, love and adore animals.
“Lieutenant Peabody would never, ever intentionally abuse or show cruelty towards any animal, especially his beloved companion, Inka.”
Investigators with the Cherokee marshal’s office recently said they found the remains of a third dog — likely Inka’s grandmother — at Peabody’s former home in Paulding County. That dog, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, likely was killed by a gunshot, Chief Ron Hunton said.
Peabody has been released on bond from the Cherokee Adult Detention Center.
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