Cops: Md. cop choked puppy to death, texted pic to girlfriend

SILVER SPRING, Md. - A Baltimore City cop has been charged with animal cruelty and abuse after allegedly choking his girlfriend's puppy to death, reports CBS Baltimore.

Investigators said Taylor used a mop to beat the helpless animal before strangling it to death with his bare hands. He then took a picture of the dead dog and sent it to his girlfriend before disposing of the body in a dumpster, said the Montgomery County Police.

"Allegations of animal cruelty are taken seriously by the Baltimore police department," said Baltimore City police officials. "Significant emphasis has been placed on training investigators to handle animal abuse incidents in Baltimore."

According to investigators, Taylor told his girlfriend he was sick of cleaning up after the puppy. He turned himself in to police on Wednesday.

Taylor's girlfriend had the dog retrieved from the dumpster and buried it in a park, reports CBS Baltimore.