A former watsonville police officer pleaded not guilty wednesday to animal abuse charges. Francisco Ibarra if facing 2 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect, after his german Sheppard (and former police dog), was seized. In February, Officials with the S-P-C-A for monterey county seized the dog, named “Ingo” after receiving reports from concerned neighbors that the dog was emaciated. Ibarra is due back in court on june 19th for a pre-trial hearing. Ibarra is asking a judge to re-instate him to the Watsonville police department. Ibarra was fired in 2010, and although a review found it was unwarranted, the city manager refused to re-hire Ibarra.
