PHOENIX (AP) – A police officer in Arizona has been booked on animal cruelty charges, accused of leaving a police dog in a patrol car for more than 12 hours on a 109-degree day.

Authorities say the suburban Phoenix officer was booked on a misdemeanor charge after a two-week investigation into the death of the Belgian Malinois (mal-in-wah) named Bandit.

The investigation found that Bandit was left in the patrol car last month while the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife. The investigation says the officer later found the dog dead in the car.

The officer says he is scheduled to appear in court September 25th, but he says his lawyer has advised him not to comment further.

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