Case involving Savannah police dog’s death moved to Clay County

By Chris Fortune

The case involving a former Savannah Police Department lieutenant and the death of a K-9 officer is moving to Clay County.

News-Press NOW previously reported that members of Daniel Zeigler’s defense team discussed a potential venue change with an attorney from the Missouri Attorney General’s office, which is acting as a special prosecutor in the case. Circuit Court Judge Daniel Kellogg granted the request to move the case to Clay County and its courthouse in Liberty, Missouri.

Ziegler pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor animal abuse in October, a charge that could carry a maximum of a year in jail and a fine of $2,000. He is charged in the death of the K-9, Horus, in June.

A probable cause statement filed in the case said Zeigler and Horus completed their overnight shift at 4:50 a.m. on June 20, according to an Andrew County dispatch log. Zeigler later contacted Savannah Police Chief Dave Vincent at 5:54 p.m. and informed him Horus was dead.

Vincent said K-9 Horus had been left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle following the end of their shift and had died of heat exposure, the probable cause statement said.

A trial setting hearing is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Clay County.