Sergeant charged in deaths of two K-9s in Salem County appears in court
SALEM COUNTY, N.J. (WPVI) -- A sergeant with the Salem County Sheriff's Office appeared in court Thursday on charges related to the deaths of two working K-9s.
According to court records, Sgt. Cody Henderson left the dogs in his patrol vehicle for nearly seven hours while on duty on May 29.
Both K-9 Boomer and K-9 Rip died of heat stroke, authorities said.
In court Thursday, prosecutors said Henderson was offered a plea deal that included probation and restitution, but his attorney said he rejected it.
Henderson's case will now go to a grand jury.
An investigation found that the vehicle's windows were closed and that an emergency alert system designed to lower the windows if temperatures became too high was presumably turned off.
Following the dogs' deaths, the sheriff placed Henderson on administrative leave with pay.
Henderson now faces animal cruelty charges in connection with the incident.
