July 11. Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom says an internal investigation into a botched animal welfare call on June 7 resulted in an unpaid suspension for the officer involved and a suspension from his duties as an active K9 handler.
A dog was left in a hot vehicle, a good Samaritan opened the door to give it water and a police officer responded in a way that “was not consistent with the way our officers treat the public or the core values of our agency.”
Due to North Carolina laws restricting public announcement of personnel matters, other actions that are being taken can’t be released. To view the chief’s comments in a video on Facebook, click here.
The criminal investigation was presented to the Mecklenburg County Magistrate’s Office, and no probable cause was found for the charge of Cruelty to Animals for the owner of the dog.
Police also released a timeline of the incident:
2:03 pm – The canine owner enters Cornelius via I-77.
2:05 pm – The canine owner turns left onto Liverpool Pkwy toward the parking lot entrance of the fast-food restaurant.
The dog owner parks and enters the fast-food restaurant to order food and use the restroom.
His juvenile son walks the dog and gives it water. The juvenile son later goes into the fast-food restaurant to join the dog owner, leaving the canine in the vehicle. Approximately 3-5 minutes pass.
2:16 pm – A call for service is received by dispatch from the caller and entered into CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch).
The complainant stated the dog owner returned to his vehicle approximately 5 minutes after her call to 911.
2:26 pm – The officer arrives on the scene.
There is no direct video footage from the fast-food restaurant; however, the available cameras, along with the statements from all parties involved, corroborate this timeline.
Details
The original video of this incident, posted online, shows that the windows of the truck were approximately 2-3 inches down.
What’s next
As a result of this incident, every officer will receive additional training on the general statute that governs the ability of first responders to enter a vehicle to protect the health and safety of an animal.
Quotable
“This has been a learning experience, and we want everyone to know our agency can and will do better with how we respond to these types of calls in the future.”
Police released another video June 16.
IMO, based on the following law, the girl did nothing wrong (should be commended) and the owner of the dog should be charged with a misdemeanor. The fact that owner came out in 5 minutes is irrelevant. How do we know he didn’t come out because he/they saw the girl at the car or they could have gotten distracted and delayed getting back to the car for any number of reasons.
In Cornelius, NC—as in all of North Carolina—leaving a dog in a hot car can be considered animal cruelty under state law. Here’s how it breaks down:
🐾 North Carolina State Law
– Illegal Conditions: Transporting or confining an animal in a vehicle under conditions “likely to cause suffering, injury, or death” due to heat, cold, or lack of ventilation is a misdemeanor offense.
– Who Can Intervene: Only law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue squad workers, animal control officers, or animal cruelty investigators are legally allowed to enter a vehicle to rescue an animal in distress.
– Civilians: Civilians are not authorized to break into a vehicle—even with good intentions. However, if someone does intervene without criminal intent, they may not be charged, depending on the circumstances.
Posted by Rob F. | July 11, 2025, 7:46 pm