Ex-officer gets probation for burying puppies

Prosecutors said John Leggett, 47, buried eight coonhound puppies on his Cumberland County property in September 2007. Two of the puppies died, and the others were put up for adoption.

Leggett, a patrol officer since 2002, was placed on administrative duty while the Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County Animal Control investigated the incident, but he resigned a few weeks later.

A judge placed him on probation for five years in the case.