Trooper Investigated For Alleged Animal Abuse

Raleigh, N.C. — The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into allegations that a trooper abused a police dog during a training exercise in early August.

Sgt. Charles L. Jones, 38, was placed on investigative leave and turned in his badge and uniform on Friday after internal affairs investigators received videotape of an incident of alleged animal abuse.

The videotape contains footage of Jones handling Ricoh, a Belgian Malinois, at a training exercise in early August. Another trooper recorded the incident with his cell phone camera and turned it over to internal affairs investigators.

Details about the exact nature of the alleged animal abuse are not being released.

After seeing the videotape, Brian Beatty, the state secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety, suspended Jones and called in the SBI.

The SBI is investigating to see if Jones broke any laws. Abusing a law enforcement animal is a felony offense.

Ricoh has been removed from Jones's care and is being housed in a kennel at the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Training Academy. Jones is banned from having any contact with Ricoh.

Ricoh had lived with Jones at his Wake County home for seven years and was the first dog that had been assigned to Jones.

Jones, a 12-year veteran of the Highway Patrol, is assigned to the Special Operations Division and also coordinates training for troopers and their K-9s.

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Latest Comments

iwondersometimes - You are exactly right.. It always has been that way! One thing I will say though, all of the Good Troopers that stay on the road are only on the road because they did not play in the politics side of being a "Governors Golden Child". The ones I know that are old salt's and still on the road will tell ya, "let me do my shift and go home" they want no parts of the political back stabbers that you encounter frequently when you get rank.

Jokers Wild II
September 3, 2007 8:14 p.m.

"Another reason I don't believe in using K-9's. Use humans. Let them get shot, not some innocent dog! Who knows what, if anything, was done to this poor "service dog." He needs to be with a loving family, not some stupid LEA!"

That is probably the most idiotic comment I've ever seen posted.

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
September 3, 2007 8:13 p.m.

"Animals have no souls and people do. There is a reason animals can't vote, hold jobs, etc- they are NOT the same as people!! wcnc"

There are many service dogs that actually DO hold jobs. If you don't think they actually work, talk to someone that has a service dog. I bet they will tell you a different story.

As for the animals having souls... Yes I believe the animals do have souls and I fully intend to see mine on the other side. As for all people having souls, that in some people is questionable.

ArkAngels
September 3, 2007 7:58 p.m.

I think these past stories about the NCSHP is just a glimpse at an organization out of control. The best troopers are still on the road during their job while some dummy who knows a senator, etc. is promoted to the top. NCSHP is corrupt with politics, always has been, always will be until something changes. The top positions are APPOINTMENTS by the Governor, not earned by hard good police work. That has to be so demoralizing to the everyday trooper just trying to do his job. If I was in the patrol I would hook onto some senator and ride him all the way to headquarters...get my butt off the road into a plush office job. What a waste of my tax dollars.

iwondersometimes
September 3, 2007 6:40 p.m.

"Troopers have the hardest law enforcement job of all."

Hehehehehehe, I agree with the other posts. I've had Troopers tell me they don't see how regular cops do it. They've said there is no way they could deal with the mess that city or county cops deal with.

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
September 3, 2007 1:58 p.m.