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Chandler policeman sues over prosecution
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Tom Lovejoy greets working K-9 in training, Tes, immediately following the not guilty verdict for Lovejoy of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in 2008.
The Associated Press
A Chandler police sergeant whose K-9 partner died in his squad car on a 115-degree day is suing over his arrest and prosecution after being acquitted of animal-cruelty charges last year.
Tom Lovejoy’s lawsuit was filed last month in Maricopa County Superior Court and alleges false arrest, malicious prosecution and abuse of process. It also requests unspecified damages and attorneys fees related to the investigation and prosecution.
Deputies arrested Lovejoy after his police dog named Bandit was left in his patrol car for more than 12 hours on Aug. 11, 2007, while he attended to personal matters.
Lovejoy was acquitted in an August 2008 trial.
He claims Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s pursuit of charges and insistence that the County Attorney’s Office prosecute was a politically motivated maneuver designed to score points during an election year.
Arpaio says he stands by the investigation and calls the lawsuit frivolous.
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