Sebastian police K-9 found dead in cruiser

Photo via WTSP News.

MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) Authorities are investigating the death of a police dog found dead inside a patrol car parked outside a courthouse.

News outlets are reporting the German Shepherd’s body was discovered about 7:30 p.m. Friday outside the Brevard County Courthouse in Melbourne on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

The patrol car belonged to an officer from the nearby Sebastian Police Department. John Blackledge, the agency’s commander of operations, called the dog’s death a tragedy, adding that his agency will conduct an independent investigation.

Officials haven’t said how long the dog was in the car. The National Weather Service reported the high in central Florida on Friday afternoon was 88 degrees.

Melbourne police and the Brevard County animal control unit also are investigating the death.

Local Headlines

Cape Coral City Council decides not to put stipends on ballot

The Cape Coral City Council is set to hold a committee of the whole meeting to discuss eliminating the controversial stipend.

Guiding young men keeps former FSW coach motivated as he joins NCAA

For Eric Murphy, performance on the floor only scratches the surface of what it means to be a coach.

Are pandemic-related supply chain issues still a problem? Some companies want you to think so

Pandemic-related supply chain issues are far and few between now. Yet, experts say the phrase is still many companies’ go to excuse.

Closure for family of cold case murder victim after 36 years of uncertainty

WINK News has been given a look at advances in crime-fighting technology that authorities used to give them crucial help to solve a nearly four-decades-old murder.

Endangered smalltooth sawfish deaths more than double since mid-March

Wildlife officials have announced five more endangered smalltooth sawfish mortalities occurred in the last two weeks of the ongoing abnormal fish behavior event in the Florida Keys.