Man Accused Of Killing Police Dog Sentenced To 35yrs Imprisonment

News by WBTW


December 16, 2011, an armed robber fired seven shots during a police manhunt through a North Columbia neighborhood.  Richland County Sheriff's deputies and Columbia Police Department officers were able to avoid being hit but Fargo, the police K9 was killed. Richland County Sheriff's investigator Warren Cavanagh, was Fargo's handler.

Cavanagh told The State newspaper, "There was a dog that was killed, but he was killed doing his job and that was protecting these officers that night."

Monday in Richland County Circuit Court, Maurice McCreary, 24, pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted murder and one count of unlawful killing of a police dog. He admitted to his actions and apologized. The State reports in exchange for his guilty plea, an armed robbery charge and an attempted murder charge were dropped.  If he had gone to trial he could have faced life in prison without parole.

Judge Robert Hood sentenced McCreary to 35 years in prison which includes the five-year maximum sentence for killing a police dog. That sentence is to be served after the other 30 years.