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Written by: E. George
Published July 2, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
Warning: The following report describes alleged violence against animals.
BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. – Richmond Hill police officers arrested a former Georgia deputy on Thursday, June 6, 2024, following an investigation regarding the abuse of his K-9 partner while employed with the Long County Sheriff’s Office. Matthew Christopher Ainsworth was charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
On June 4, 2024, a Richmond Hill police officer responded to an animal cruelty report and spoke with the complainant, who explained that she had a video of Ainsworth abusing his K-9 partner, Neuro, a Belgian Malinois. In the video, the officer observed Ainsworth hitting the dog with his right hand, following him as he ran away, and then hitting him five more times with both hands.
Ainsworth then grabbed the dog’s collar and picked him up from a lying position on the floor, “completely off the ground.” He held him up in the air just by his collar and, using his body weight, threw him over his shoulder and slammed him into the ground.
The canine immediately began yelping in pain and dragged his right hind leg as he walked. Ainsworth grabbed him again by the collar and placed him into the crate.
The witness is heard yelling, “Stop hitting these dogs when you are drunk!” She let Nero out of the crate, and he limped away, yelping in distress.
Even out of the camera frame, Nero can still be heard whimpering. The witness then yelled at him about the dog’s inability to put pressure on his leg.
The witness told the officer that Ainsworth had been drinking heavily for the past few years, and despite promising to seek help and attend therapy, he continued to drink excessively.
According to the report, the incident occurred on October 25, 2023, but wasn’t reported until June 2024. It went on to state that Ainsworth was eventually terminated from the Long County Sheriff’s Office for an “unrelated” issue that was redacted in the report by the Richmond Hill Police Department.
The injured K-9 officer was transferred to a new jurisdiction because Long County did not have another handler to take care of him. It is unknown when or who sought treatment for K9 Neuro’s injuries. Sources revealed that the dog was now working with Georgia Southern University Police, has recovered, and is doing well.
In March, Ainsworth became a sworn deputy at the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office. According to sources, he was terminated after his arrest in this case.
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