Boone County, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Tuesday (April 4, 2023), said 50-year-old Dallas Wingate, a former Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy and K-9 handler, was charged with the death of K-9 deputy Bear. Wingate, who turned himself in at the Story County Jail, has been charged with one count of Injury or Interference of a Police Dog Service, a class D felony.

On September 2, 2022, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office requested DCI investigate after Bear was found dead inside Wingate’s K-9-equipped police vehicle. The investigation showed that Wingate placed Bear inside his enclosed vehicle on the evening of September 1. Nearly twenty-two hours later, Wingate opened the vehicle for the first time.

The Story County Attorney’s Office will prosecute this case.
Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Photo courtesy of Story County Sheriff’s Office