FAIRMOUNT, Ind. — A former central Indiana police officer has now been charged with animal cruelty after his K-9 partner died last year in the back of his squad car.
The misdemeanor charge was filed Thursday against Kyle James Vincent, an officer who previously served with the Fairmount Police Department. Vincent was initially placed on administrative leave on Sept. 10, 2023, after his K-9 partner was found dead in the back of his squad car. FPD confirmed that Vincent formally resigned two days later on Sept. 12.
Per previous reports, K-9 Zeusz died on Sept. 10, 2023, in the back of Officer Vincent’s FPD patrol vehicle. Indiana State Police were called the next day to investigate. For more information on Zeusz's death, click here.
Fairmount police did not release any additional information at the time about Zeusz’s death, but did confirm that there was a temperature alarm equipped in Vincent's squad car. ISP said at the time that no obvious cause of death was found in Zeusz’s autopsy.
Now, former officer Vincent is facing criminal repercussions related to Zeusz's death. One level A misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty against a vertebrate animal was filed on June 6 against Vincent in Gas City Court.
At the time of this publication, no further information has been released regarding Vincent's charge or what led to the filing. FOX59/CBS4 has requested a copy of the probable cause affidavit for Vincent's charges.