Wrecker service driver arrested after dog dies in towed vehicle in Twiggs County

The Twiggs County Sheriff's Office says a wrecker driver is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after a dog was left inside a towed vehicle.

TWIGGS COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A wrecker service driver has been arrested in connection with the death of a dog left in a towed vehicle following a traffic stop on I-16, according to the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office.

Edwin Thomas Brown, an employee of Brown’s Wrecker Service, was taken into custody around 12:45 Wednesday afternoon. Brown is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, the sheriff’s office reported in a news release.

According to the release, on Tuesday, July 30, a Twiggs County deputy conducted a traffic stop for a window tint violation. The driver was arrested for having an invalid driver’s license, and the deputy made arrangements for Brown to tow the vehicle, which had a dog inside.

The driver agreed to let the dog stay in the vehicle until someone could pick it up.

“This has been done in the past as a courtesy from the wrecker service to help the County and the Sheriff’s Office due to the fact that the county does not have animal control services or facilities,” the release stated.

According to the sheriff’s office, Brown left the dog inside the vehicle with the windows down approximately three inches to allow airflow.

The driver, who was released from jail about three hours after the arrest, found the dog dead inside the vehicle when he arrived.

The case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.