Dog exhumed from backyard after ex-officer's K-9 dies in car

CANTON, Ga. (AP) Authorities are investigating whether a former Georgia school police officer lied about killing a retired K-9, following the death of his most recent K-9 in a hot patrol car.

Investigators say former Cherokee County School Police Lt. Daniel Peabody is charged with felony animal cruelty after Inca, a Belgian Malinois, died of heat stroke after being left inside the car for nearly three hours on June 10.

Peabody is also charged with lying to police about the 2012 death of a retired K-9 in his care. Peabody told investigators the yellow lab, named Dale, fatally choked on a toy. The Marshal's Office says the investigation into Inca's death turned up evidence that Peabody shot and killed Dale.

Authorities say they've exhumed the body of a dog from Peabody's backyard.