Heartfelt cards. Fresh bouquets. Squeaky toys.
These were among the items left on the hood of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Bush’s police vehicle as a memorial for his fallen K9 partner, Diesel.
Diesel was killed Saturday while pursuing a suspect in a domestic violence incident. The exact cause of his death is unclear as of Monday.
Bush’s car has been parked outside the Bartholomew County Jail as a place where members of the community can pay their respects to the K9 and leave tributes in his honor.
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“It’s just as much Diesel’s car as it was the K9 handler’s,” said Chief Deputy Maj. Chris Lane. “Diesel rode in that car every night when he came to work.”
Many people have reached out to the department over social media to express their condolences, so it seemed appropriate to give the community an opportunity to memorialize Diesel, Lane said.
“We’ve had such a tremendous outpouring from the whole community here,” he said. “The dog’s not just the sheriff’s department dog, it’s the citizens of Bartholomew County’s K9 also.”
Flags are at half staff at the jail in honor of the K9.
Lane added that anyone wishing to leave a card or tribute on Bush’s car should not block lanes of traffic. Instead, they should park in either the parking lot to the north of the jail and across the street, or the gravel parking lot to the east of the jail. The sheriff’s department also asks that visitors use the crosswalk to get to the vehicle.
Deputies have said that the department is working on a memorial service and will update the public soon. The department thanked the community for its support during the difficult time.
In addition to local tributes, the department has received calls from all over the country from people expressing condolences about Diesel’s death.
For those inquiring about a memorial for Diesel, staff members are working on details. Anyone interested in contributing to a memorial may do so at the BCSO K9 Fund at the sheriff’s department. Checks should be made payable to the Bartholomew County Sheriff K9 Fund with a note on the memo line “Diesel memorial.”
In the line of duty
At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, Bush released Diesel to pursue a domestic violence suspect on foot near County Road 600S and 250W. The dog is believed to have followed the suspect, Michael Stephens, into some woods and later onto I-65. Diesel was found dead in one of the traffic lanes.
Stephens, 36, Columbus, was found in a ravine near the interstate and arrested with outstanding warrants as well as additional preliminary charges, deputies said.
Preliminary charges against Stephens include a warrant for two counts of felony domestic battery committed in the presence of a child younger than age 16, and new charges of cruelty to a law enforcement animal, resisting law enforcement, domestic battery, intimidation and strangulation, jail officials said.
Deputies believe Diesel followed Stephens across the interstate, but they did not see the dog being hit by a vehicle. They only learned what had happened to Diesel when attempts to call him back were unsuccessful.
The department initially believed the dog was struck, but are now investigating if Diesel was stabbed or injured while chasing the suspect, leading to the dog’s death, Sheriff Matt Myers said. A necropsy is planned to determine the dog’s cause of death.
Deputies are asking anyone who was traveling on I-65 between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and saw anything in relation to this case to call the sheriff’s department at 812-379-1650 and ask to speak with Lt. Chad Swank in the investigations division.
About Diesel
Diesel was born in Poland and imported to the United States, Bush said in an earlier interview. The K9 had been with the sheriff’s department since 2016.
Diesel was purchased with funds from Real World Testing LLC in Columbus and then-dispatcher and now Deputy Dylan Prather, who individually raised $18,000 to obtain the dog for the department.
Diesel received his official badge and was officially placed on duty in December of 2016. Bush said at the time that he and his canine partner had completed a six-week training program in North Carolina a couple months prior. During the program, Diesel was judged best among the eight dogs in the class for narcotics tracking.
Even before receiving his badge, Diesel was hard at work and assisted in 15 drug arrests over two months, Bush said.
Diesel was known to aggressively go after suspects. He was used to find drugs in vehicles and to search for suspects who had fled from police. His handler said in an earlier interview that Diesel loved to chase balls, appreciated belly rubs and did not like to be ignored.
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The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has parked Deputy Matt Bush’s vehicle outside the Bartholomew County Jail for those who wish to pay their respects and leave a tribute to K9 Diesel.
Lane added that anyone wishing to leave a card or tribute on Bush’s car should not block lanes of traffic. Instead, they should park in either the parking lot to the north of the jail and across the street, or the gravel parking lot to the east of the jail. The sheriff’s department also asks that visitors use the crosswalk to get to the vehicle.
The department will continue to work on a memorial service and will update the public soon, deputies said.
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Deputies are asking anyone who was traveling on I-65 between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and saw anything in relation to this case to call the sheriff’s department at 812-379-1650 and ask to speak with Lt. Chad Swank in the investigations division.
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