In Charleston, West Virginia, a former Chapmanville police officer pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges in connection with the disappearance of K-9 Officer Chase.
According to WVMetroNews, Marcus Dudley, 26, the dog’s handler, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, making false statements and obstructing an officer.
K-9 Chase went missing on April 11, 2023, after Dudley reported that Chase jumped over the fence and escaped his home in South Charleston. Chase finished his training in March before working with the Chapmanville Police Department.
In court on Thursday, Dudley admitted he had not provided the proper supervision for the dog. Dudley said he left Chase unattended for a day to a day and a half at his home in South Charleston, and said there was food and water, but he “didn’t physically put the food down in front of [Chase], but there was food.”
Dudley also said he gave a false statement to a police officer when first asked about the dog’s disappearance stating that Chase had been supervised all the time, but that was not the truth.
Dudley had been arrested on August 15, and the disappearance of K9 Chase has garnered attention across social media. The Facebook group, Justice for K-9 Officer Chase, continues to hold out hope that Chase is still alive and will be found.
So, “where is Chase?,” but no one brought the dog’s disappearance up in court this week, and it is disappointing to everyone involved in this mystery. If K-9 Chase had been a human officer and disappeared, the investigation would have actively continued. Isn’t a K-9 officer’s life important, since these dogs put their lives on the line faithfully to keep their human handlers and the other officers safe?
Bravo for the people who are being Chase’s voice.
Dudley is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces up to six months in prison.
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