JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office assistant chief was arrested Thursday on a charge of animal cruelty.
Robert Drummond, 65, was booked into the Duval County jail on the charge shortly before 1 p.m., online jail records show.
According to his arrest report, Drummond told an animal control officer that he had taken his dog to the vet to be euthanized because of her age, and because she was blind, deaf and going to the bathroom inside the house. The report states Drummond left the vet because it was taking too long.
Sources tell News4Jax the dog was found in the dumpster located behind a shopping plaza on Normandy Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon when outside temperatures were in the 90s.
A witness, who asked not to be identified, said he saw a man open the dumpster and discovered the dog still alive.
“He said, ‘Somebody dumped a dog in here.’ So I jumped the gate and saw the dog and was, like, ‘Wow,’” the witness said. “He went back and forth getting the dog water. The dog must have drank like three or four bowls of water.”
According to sources, the dog had a microchip, which led police to its owner, Drummond.
A statement from a city spokesperson reads:
“The dog will be OK and will be taken care of by one of the rescue groups that work with the shelter. We will have more info next week.”
News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson, a former JSO officer, said he worked with Drummond.
“I know him very well, and it’s not only surprising, but it’s very disappointing,” Jefferson said. “You never want to hear this kind of news about a former colleague, particularly one involved in law enforcement.”
Drummond was scheduled for court Friday but he waived his appearance.
According to Drummond’s online resume, he worked at JSO from 1995 to 2001. The resume states he also has a certificate from the FBI National Academy.