Police Dog in Ohio Sued for Illegal Search of Business

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ATHENS, Ohio - If the defendant loses this lawsuit, he might have to fork over some dog biscuits.

An Athens, Ohio, a police dog is one of the parties named in a suit filed by a convicted drug dealer.

Wayne Green claimed his furniture business was illegally searched by the dog and others in 2003.

The Athens County sheriff’s department dog, Andi, helped searchers find 50 pounds of marijuana. Green was convicted of possession and trafficking, and faces sentencing next month.

"Everybody’s laughing about it," Sheriff Vern Castle said of the suit. "I don’t know what he’s thinking, suing the dog. Everybody’s making jokes about it, like maybe we should send him a box of dog biscuits and see if he’ll take that as a settlement," he said, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

But the prosecutor who served Andi with the complaint made sure to get his paw print.

"I just thought I’d be safe, and show that he was served," said Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.

Warren told the Columbus Dispatch that the stress may be getting to the dog.

"He seems lethargic," the prosecutor said. "He may be suffering psychological problems from this. We may have to file a counterclaim."