COLUMBUS, Ind. — A necropsy performed on K9 Diesel indicates the Bartholomew County Sheriff canine died from injuries suffered when being struck by a vehicle, deputies said Tuesday.
The Purdue University Animal Disease and Diagnostic Lab conducted the exam, similar to an autopsy on a human, to determine the dog’s cause of death.
Diesel was killed Saturday afternoon while chasing a suspect wanted in a domestic violence investigation near County Road 600S and County Road 250W. The dog chased the suspect, identified as Michael Stephens, 36, Columbus, into some woods near I-65 and is believed to have tried to follow Stephens across the interstate, deputies said.
The dog was later found dead in one of the I-65 traffic lanes, deputies said. Stephens was found in a ravine near the interstate and taken into custody on a warrant for two counts of felony domestic battery committed in the presence of a child younger than age 16 and charges of cruelty to a law enforcement animal, resisting law enforcement, domestic battery, intimidation and strangulation, deputies said.
