COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Muskingum County Sheriff's Office deputy is charged after allegedly leaving a K-9 in his car with the heat on for several hours, resulting in the dog's death, according to the county's prosecutor.

According to court records, Deputy Detective Matt Wilhite faces one count of cruelty to animals, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The investigation found, while inside the sheriff's office, Wilhite left his unmarked car running with what he believed was the AC but was actually the defogging mode blowing warmer air. He also did not have a portable device that monitors car temperatures with Cooper, according to a release from Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch's office.

"The loss of a K-9 officer is a terrible loss and I understand the community's anger," Welch said. "Every K

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