The Brunswick County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office lost one of its top dogs Saturday to cocaine poisoning from a package allegedly dropped by drug suspects.
K-9 Viper was memorialized by about 200 county employees and law enforcement officers Tuesday morning during services in front of the county courthouse. A Belgian Malinois and one of the office’s eight police dogs, Viper became the county’s first, and nation’s second, police dog killed in the line of duty this year.
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Viper was tracking suspects in a drug investigation by the sheriff office’s Drug Enforcement Unit, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives and the Wilmington North Carolina Police Department.
Two men, Braulio Yanez Marin, 28, and Jamie Lopez Gonzalez, 32, were arrested on cocaine trafficking and conspiracy charges and taken to the Brunswick County jail where they remain on $1 million bond.
A six-year veteran, Viper, an aggressive-trained dog for special operations involving dangerous criminals and patrols, was off lead because he was chasing suspects in a 100-acre cornfield, according to an official with the U.S. Police Canine Association
But while running, Viper came across and bit a package containing a kilo, or 2.6 pounds of cocaine.
“That explains how the dog was poisoned,” said Russ Hess, the canine association’s executive director. “The package probably had sweat and the scent of the suspects all over it, and when the dog found it, he bit it and probably shook it.”
Viper retrieved the package and brought it to his handler, sheriff’s Deputy Jared Zeller. Zeller attempted first aid and took the dog to Four Paws emergency veterinarian hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“By the time the dog got back from across the field with that cocaine in his mouth, he was pretty much a goner,” said Lt. Tom Tolley, who once ran the office’s canine unit and who trained Viper six years ago.
Grieving the loss of a canine partner can be more intense than losing a human partner, Hess said.
“You spend more time with your K-9 partner than you do with your fellow officers, family or even your wife,” Hess said. “He listens to you vent. He knows what kind of mood you’re in when you get up each day. He doesn’t criticize, and he would not hesitate to lay down his life for you. This dog obviously did that for his handler. They are guardian angels to these officers.
rip sweet dog u deserve the upmost respect thank u for ur service all my lov
So shouldn’t those 2 men be held on manslaughter charges? A police dog is part of the police force and should be treated as such! HAd the human officers given their life for this service they’d be facing a big penalty.
Great point, Nuhuskers01!
My heart goes out to Viper’s handler and the rest of the force that worked with him. Such a tragic loss! Soooo wish the perptrators could be charged for manslaughter or 2nd degree murder for Viper’s death. If it was a human death it would be felony murder!
So very sad that Viper lost his life in such a way. Condolences to all whom his sudden passing as affected.
They killed an officer of the law. How many humans have been rescued or given a better quality of life by service dogs? Thank you Viper and your handler for keeping people safe.
Condolences to Deputy Zeller and God Bless Viper. Anybody who thinks police dogs don’t have a dangerous life is wrong. I’m so sorry about this.
Just heartbreaking!
RIP Viper, enjoy your new life on Rainbow Bridge
Beautiful Maligator… Such a waste of a great pup… did his job right up to the very end…God love him. I sure gave my Mal, my Terv and my GSD extra love/time tonight… Hugs to Deputy Zeller and his family. There is just something about a Malinois.. They make you proud..and this just breaks my heart…