Tennessee Deputy, Donnie Myrick, Evicted From Home Is Accused of Neglecting Retired K9 Partner

TENNESSEE -- Friday, family members are picking up the pieces of their lives unceremoniously dumped in a dispute between renter and landlord.

Both of them are Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputies.

 

 

Discoveries of confidential case files and a small amount of marijuana during Deputy Donnie Myrick's eviction Wednesday sparked an Internal Investigation.

Turns out, that part of the story was just the tip of the iceberg.

In a video from August 17th, the Humane Educational Society documents their visit to 7920 North Dent Road. In the backyard, feces and rainwater fill the pen where 10-year-old Falco lives.

Falco served as a K9 officer with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office until March, when he retired and came to live with his former handler, Myrick.

 

 

 

 

The Humane Educational Society says the first visit to the home was in May, after a concerned neighbor told them it appeared Myrick moved out of the home, leaving Falco behind.

Executive Director Bob Citrullo says Myrick told them he was planning to move and unable to bring Falco. Instead, he was visiting Falco to care for him once a day until he found him a new home.

The shelter received additional calls in August, prompting a second visit to the home, resulting in Falco's seizure.

It wasn't always this way.

In our News Archives, we found video of Myrick and Falco working together on assignment. They responded to a car theft and successfully located and apprehended the suspects.

 

Donnie Myrick and Falco back in 2010

The 2010 video capturing their strong bond is drastically different from what was recorded August 17th.

"Uh, it broke my heart," says Robin Scott, founder of InVEST in K9.

The organization raises money to provide police dogs with bulletproof vests, a cost of $980 per unit. Scott raised enough money to buy one for Falco last year.

"Once I vest a dog, there's a lot of joy that comes out of it, because I know that dog is protected. To hear that a dog wasn't protected at home is very disappointing," she says.

 

According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Myrick is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

When NewsChannel 9 inquired about Myrick's eviction Thursday, none of this was revealed.

However, things are looking up for Falco. He was adopted by a K9 trainer who already owns another retired police dog.

"We are very fortunate that it's a happy ending for Falco, because he's going to live his life now as he should," says Citrullo.

(News Channel 9 - Sept 4, 2015)