SC man accused of killing police dog charged with federal crime, prosecutor says
A Midlands man who’s accused of fatally shooting a police dog over the summer was charged with a federal crime and faces years behind bars, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A federal grand jury in Columbia indicted 37-year-old Prosperity resident James Robert Peterson for being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The charge stems from a June 11 incident when South Carolina Law Enforcement Division K9 Coba was shot in the line of duty while assisting the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement was trying to apprehend a man, later identified as Peterson, who was wanted on a burglary charge.
After Coba was shot and killed, Peterson was found in possession of firearm, according to the release.
Peterson was also shot during the incident, SLED previously said.
No other injuries were reported.
Coba
Coba was a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois mix who joined SLED in 2021, according to the law enforcement agency. The dog had been deployed 300 times and apprehended 16 criminals, according to Lt. Keith Thrower, who oversees SLED’s K9 tracking team.
“He was always ready to put himself in harm’s way,” Thrower said. “You could feel Coba’s intensity, whether he was on a fugitive or SWAT call, there was never any doubt that he did not have your back.”
More charges
Peterson has previously been charged with state crimes connected to the June shooting, including first-degree burglary, breach of peace (aggravated in nature), cruelty to police dog, possession of firearm or ammunition by person convicted of certain crimes, resisting arrest with a deadly weapon as well as four counts of pointing and presenting firearms at a person, Newberry County court records show.
Peterson has a previous felony conviction that prevents him from possessing a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
If convicted on the federal charge, Peterson faces a maximum punishment of 15 years in federal prison, according to the release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Peterson is being held in jail while awaiting trial on the federal charge, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle Klein is prosecuting the case, according to the release. Public defender Tristan Shaffer was listed as Peterson’s attorney, court records show.
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This story was originally published December 15, 2024 at 11:34 AM with the headline "SC man accused of killing police dog charged with federal crime, prosecutor says."
