A Frankfort police officer assigned as a K-9 handler is facing criminal charges after an investigation conducted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Ethan Cunningham with Official Misconduct, a Level 6 Felony, and Animal Cruelty, a Class A Misdemeanor. Authorities said Cunningham surrendered himself at the Boone County Jail without incident following the filing of charges.
The case stems from an animal cruelty complaint involving Cunningham and a Frankfort Police Department K-9. The investigation was handled by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office after the Lebanon Police Department requested an independent review due to a potential conflict of interest.
According to officials, detectives conducted an extensive investigation that included reviewing video evidence, interviewing witnesses, gathering records, and following up on information from multiple sources.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges after presenting the findings of its investigation to the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
In a statement, sheriff’s officials thanked the Frankfort Police Department, the Lebanon Police Department, the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office, and others who assisted investigators throughout the case.
Because the matter is now pending before the courts, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said it will not release additional details regarding the investigation.
The criminal charges mark the beginning of the judicial process. Under Indiana law, all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Information regarding future court proceedings is expected to become available through the Boone County court system