BY JARETT LEWIS
SOUTH CHARLESTON — A Kanawha County grand jury indicted a former Chapmanville Police officer who hasn’t been able to explain the disappearance of his police K-9.
The police dog named Chase was initially reported missing in April.
Marcus Dudley was indicted Thursday for three counts of falsely reporting an emergency, two counts of making false statements and obstructing an officer and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The South Charleston Police Department released a statement following the indictment against Dudley.
“The South Charleston Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into the disappearance of police canine Chase. The investigation was presented to the Kanawha County Grand Jury, who returned an indictment against Marcus Dudley. SCPD has received a tremendous amount of community support and assistance in its efforts to find Chase. Unfortunately, he has yet to be located. However, SCPD remains committed to finding Chase.”
Dudley’s police K9 Chase has not been found after being reported missing for several months. Dudley and Chase had lived in South Charleston — about 43 miles from Chapmanville, where they worked.
Dudley, when reporting Chase missing, had said the dog had escaped his enclosure and ran away on April 11.
Dudley is reportedly no longer living in the South Charleston area or the state and is not currently in custody, according to police.
