Laurel, In. — WRBI News has learned the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is investigating the death of Blade, the Laurel K-9 officer that died at the first of the year.
Clint Ellis, Blade’s handler, was recently fired for insubordination and lying about the location of the dog’s body.
Town residents showered questions to the town council during a recent meeting where Ellis’s girlfriend, Mallory Carlton is the vice president.
On New Year’s Eve Blade began to show signs of lethargy but did not have diarrhea or other serious symptoms according to Carlton and Ellis asked her to keep an eye on the dog. They noted the dog continued to eat and drink water but died News Years Day.
Boone conceded they should have taken the dog to the vet but they didn’t think the matter was that serious. Ellis
Following the death of the dog, Ellis called Laurel Town Marshal Brad Spurlock. Spurlock instructed Ellis to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department referred them to Indiana State Police, the agency tasked with investigating other departments. Reportedly, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources ended up with the case because the dog was not killed in the line of duty.
Carlton said the dog was decommissioned at the direction of the town attorneys in November of 2016 because he was too aggressive. She continued that Blade was out-of-service and technically not a K-9 officer at the time of his death.
Indiana State Police have custody of the body while an autopsy is being performed. Town officials say they will have a public burial for Blade when his body is returned.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has not yet commented on this matter.
