NJ cop under investigation for crass Facebook posts about drowned dog

NEW JERSEY -- A New Jersey police sergeant is under investigation for posting some callous Facebook comments about a dog that drowned when his owner's truck plunged through river ice, authorities said.

"Why didn't the dog do the Doggie Paddle" Seaside Heights Police Sgt. Thomas Yannacone allegedly wrote on his private social media page. "Was his favorite movie Dog Day Afternoon."

The dead dog is still at the bottom of Toms River, as is the truck belonging to Andrew Mayer, who has been charged with criminal mischief and reckless driving. Mayer was spinning doughnuts on the frozen river when the ice shattered and his vehicle sank, police said.

A helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Atlantic City, N.J., pinpointed the site where a pickup truck plunged through the ice on the Toms River.

The owner escaped, but his dog didn’t when left behind to drown.

Mayer's dog, a boxer mix named Rolo, was inside the truck. The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Yannacone was off duty when the posts went up, according to Det. Steve Korman, the paper reported. His department's Internal Affairs unit is investigating.

When his posts started gaining attention, he posted "What, too soon, calm down u animal loving freaks."

He also wrote, "Truck plunging through ice with a dog inside brings a whole new meaning to FROZEN WEINER or DIRTY WATER DOG."

Yannacone remains on duty during the probe, the paper reported.

(NY Daily News - March 5, 2015)

Earlier:

• Foolish owner who took his dog Rolo for a joyride on frozen river, then 'left him to die when pick-up fell through the ice' arrested