Ramsey County deputy on leave after allegedly mistreating K-9 partner
A Ramsey County Sheriff's deputy has been put on administrative leave and faces two misdemeanor counts for allegedly mistreating his K-9 partner.
On June 15, staff at Black Bear Casino told Carlton County Sheriff's deputies they had security video that showed the deputy verbally and physically abusing the dog specially trained to work with a law enforcement partner.
According to the Sheriff's office, casino staff called security to ask a man in the bar — later identified as Ramsey County Deputy and K-9 handler Brett Berry — to leave.
Carlton County authorities say security video footage from the casino and hotel shows Berry returning to his hotel room, then emerging five minutes later with his canine partner. The Sheriff's office says the two walked to the casino parking lot where Berry was observed on video scolding the dog and picking it up by the collar and throwing it to the ground. The dog ran back to the casino, where it got stuck inside the entrance hall.
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The Sheriff's office says security video shows Berry tracking down and repeatedly striking the dog.
Sgt. Jeff Eastham, spokesman for the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, says Berry was at the casino for certification trials - an annual requirement for K-9s and their handlers.
The Carlton County Sheriff's Office says Berry was charged with two misdemeanors for assaulting a public safety dog and animal cruelty.
Eastham says Berry was sent home from trials and placed on administrative leave.
"The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office takes our responsibilities, and professionalism very seriously. As soon as we learned about the allegations involving Deputy Berry, and his K-9 partner Boone, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office took quick, decisive, action," Eastham said in a written statement.
Boone was evaluated by a veterinarian and no injuries were found, the statement said. The dog is now staying with a family that has experience housing police K-9s.
"We will continue to hold our staff to the highest standards and are deeply troubled by this incident," Eastham's statement read.
Berry and Boone passed a 12-week certification course in 2011. Eastham says Berry has not been accused of hurting Boone before.
According to personnel records shared by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, Berry was hired as a deputy in 1996. In 2007, a complaint was filed against him for "poor public relations" stemming from a traffic stop. That complaint was not sustained.