K-9 that sniffed substance during prison sweep dies

ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. -- (WHNT) -- A dog that sniffed a powdery substance and collapsed during a prison contraband sweep last week has died.

The K-9 named Jake died Saturday, state officials said.

Jake and his handler, Sgt. Quinton Jones, were part of a three-team unit that was searching a housing dorm at Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore County last Thursday. He alerted on a substance during the sweep and became unresponsive, officials said. The Alabama Department of Corrections said they substance was synthetic marijuana.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian in the area and then later to the Auburn University Veterinary Clinic. He died there Saturday afternoon after developing pneumonia and abnormal vital signs.

Jake had been a member of ADOC's K-9 Bureau since June 2014.

“Jake was one of our best narcotics detection K9s,” said ADOC Investigations & Intelligence Director Arnaldo Mercado in a news release. “I ask that we keep Sgt. Jones and the ADOC family in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.”