NORTH PORT (FOX 13) - A highly-trained police dog was found dead along Cranberry Avenue in North Port Monday morning.
The German Shepherd named Edo had been the subject of a search since he was reported missing from his cage Saturday night in the open garage of his handler, Charlotte County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Davoli.
"He's understandably devastated," said Charlotte County Sheriff's spokesperson Katie Heck. Edo, who was trained in both patrol and drug detection had been Davoli's constant companion for two years.
North Port police say a necropsy of the dog's body showed internal injuries consistent with being struck by a car.
Davoli told North Port police that Edo was locked in his cage in his open garage about 7:15 Saturday night. When Davoli returned to the garage about 45 minutes later, he says Edo was gone and the cage was still closed.
Searches Sunday showed no signs of the dog, but a woman walking her own dog found the body Monday around 10 a.m. about a half mile from Davoli's house.
North Port police say they will continue to investigate whether the dog was let out of his cage or escaped on its own.
Heck says the dog cost about $7,000 and, with training costs, was valued at around $25,000.