An Ohio sheriff's deputy has been charged after leaving his K-9 in a car for hours, resulting in the dog's death, authorities said.

In a news release , the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office said sheriff's deputy Matt Wilhite was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor in connection with K-9 Cooper's death.

The news release said Cooper died after being left alone in Wilhite's unmarked car for "several hours." Officials said the deputy left the dog in the car, believing the air conditioner was on. But Wilhite left the defogging mode on with warmer air instead, according to officials.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office added that the deputy did not take a device that monitors the car's temperature with him.

"The loss of a K-9 officer is a terrible loss and I understand the commu

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