Indiana state trooper charged with misdemeanor over K-9’s leg fracture

An Indiana state trooper is facing a misdemeanor charge after being accused of using “unreasonable discipline” and fracturing his police K-9’s leg during a training session earlier this year.  

Trooper Dustan Rubenacker, 29, was charged this week with striking a law enforcement animal, a class A misdemeanor, the Indiana State Police confirmed to The Hill. He is currently on paid administrative leave.

Officials launched a criminal investigation in March over the dog Odin’s injury. The pair were in a training session in Jasper, Ind., on March 17 and Odin was “not properly focusing on the correct target,” according to the Indiana State Police, before Rubenacker gave him a “serious fracture” to his right rear leg.

The injury required surgery, police said, and officials are unsure if the dog will return to work. Several K-9 teams were reportedly present during the incident.

An internal investigation against Rubenacker, who has been with the Indiana State Police for six years, is ongoing.

Odin, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been a member of the Indiana State Police for four years.

Rubenacker is scheduled to appear before the Dubois Circuit Court on July 6.