Staff Reports
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles, led by Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies, escorted a hearse carrying the remains of K9 Diesel to a facility east of Columbus for cremation on Tuesday.
The procession began at Columbus Regional Hospital and went to Washington Street into downtown Columbus, where it turned on to Second Street and passed the Bartholomew County Jail. Flags there are at half staff and a group of sheriff’s department deputies, staff members and jail corrections officers and members of the general public looked on, some holding signs showing their appreciation for the K9.
The police vehicle of Deputy Matt Bush, Diesel’s handler, is parked at the jail, surrounded by flower arrangements honoring the K9 along with cards, dog toys and other remembrances.
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Diesel’s hearse had small American flags on either side of the vehicle, and sheriff deputies saluted as it passed by the jail.
The sheriff’s department continues to work on plans for a memorial service for Diesel as calls and sympathy messages pour in from across the nation about the dog’s death. Sheriff Matt Myers said the department is working with other agencies to find a location for the memorial service that will be safe in terms of pandemic restrictions but still allows those who wish to pay their respects to do so.
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.
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.
The sheriff’s department is asking anyone with information about the incident, which is believed to have happened between 4 and 5 p.m. Saturday, to call Detective Chad Swank at 812-565-5925 or 812-379-1650. The department’s tip line is 812-379-1712 and information may be left anonymously.
Myers said if anyone thinks they may have hit an animal during that time near the 62 mile marker on I-65, the department needs to know. The department understands this was an accident and are not seeking to file charges, Myers said in a statement. “We are trying to obtain as complete and accurate a picture of this incident as possible,” he said.
Diesel had been with the sheriff’s department since 2016, purchased with funds from Real World Testing LLC in Columbus and then-dispatcher and now Deputy Dylan Prather. Prather raised $18,000 to obtain the dog for the department.
The dog was known to aggressively go after suspects and was used extensively to locate drugs in vehicles and to search for fleeing suspects. 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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Those wishing to leave sympathy cards or flowers are welcome to place the items on Deputy Matt Bush’s patrol vehicle outside the Bartholomew County Jail in downtown Columbus.
Those interested in contributing to a memorial for Diesel may contribute to the BCSO K9 Fund at the sheriff’s department. Checks should be made payable to the Bartholomew County K9 Fund with a note on the memo line that says "Diesel memorial."
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To watch a video of the procession for K9 Diesel, visit the Facebook pages of Sheriff Matt Myers or The Republic.
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To view more photos of the procession for Diesel, visit therepublic.com.
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