Texas Police Dog Dies after Officer Leaves the Animal Alone in Hot Cruiser

A South Texas police officer faces an animal cruelty charge after reportedly leaving a police dog alone in a hot car where it eventually died.

The San Antonio Express News reported Monday that 37-year-old San Juan Police Department Officer Juan Luis Cerillo called the McAllen Police Department around 5:30 PM on Friday, June 3 to notify them that he'd left the dog in his police cruiser.

By the time police located the car, the Belgian Malinois was dead.

Cerrillo was arrested, booked, and released Saturday facing a class A misdemeanor charge of Cruelty to a Non-Livestock Animal.

Police have not said if Cerillo will face disciplinary action from his department.

According to the Express News, Cerillo was arrested in 2000 and 2006 and charged with driving while intoxicated. Charges were dismissed in both cases.

San Juan City Manager Ben Arjona told KGBT-TV the incident involving the dog was an "unfortunate accident".

If convicted, Cerillo would be deemed ineligible to hold a peace officer license.