EL CERRITO — A police dog is back on duty in El Cerrito after inhaling a small amount of cocaine during a suspect search last week, police said Monday.
An El Cerrito police K-9 named Koda and its handler were called around 11:30 a.m. last Wednesday to assist in a traffic stop on a car near the El Cerrito-Richmond border, according to police.
Police said during a search of the car, Koda found a small amount of a substance believed to be cocaine and inhaled some of it.
The dog was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where it tested positive for the presence of a stimulant, according to police.
The animal was treated, recovered and was able to return to full duty the next day.
Police said an occupant from the car where the narcotics were found, identified as 29-year-old Mone’ Sellers of San Pablo, was arrested.
In a statement, police said that “while every effort is made to ensure the safety of the canines, the discovery of suspected drugs can lead to this situation.”
El Cerrito police said Koda, one of two K-9s used by the department, is cross-trained in handler protection, searches and drug detection.
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