The death of a Mercer County K-9 Zak sparked outrage among the community, with many people calling for criminal charges against the deputy responsible for the dog's death. Today (Aug 16), we learn criminal charges will not be filed against that deputy.
After reviewing the Mercer County Sheriff's Department's investigative report, the Celina Law Director George Moore has determined there is not enough evidence to charge Deputy Chad Fortkamp with any misdemeanor criminal charges. Moore received the sheriff's department's report last week and he said he looked into what charges may be appropriate, but in this particular instance he doesn't believe that sufficient facts exist, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Fortkamp needed to be charged.
Fortkamp has been suspended for 45 days from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Jeff Grey says the suspension would be a 65 hundred dollar loss in pay, and if the deputy was charged with a misdemeanor, it would have cost him only a few hundred dollars.
