ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. — An Alabama K-9 officer will be buried this week after his death last week following a prison sweep at a correctional facility in Elmore County.
The dog, named Jake, fell ill, becoming immediately unresponsive after alerting on a substance at the Station Correctional Facility, WHNT-TV reported.
The substance was synthetic marijuana, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Jake, a K-9 officer since 2014, was first taken to a veterinarian, WHNT reported, then to the Auburn University Veterinarian Clinic, where he died Saturday after developing pneumonia and abnormal vital signs.
The ADOC issued a statement calling Jake one of the agency’s “best narcotics detection K9s” and the governor announced a commendation for the dog.
The investigation into the deadly substance is ongoing and authorities said they plan to prosecute anyone connected with the dog’s death.
Cox Media Group
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