A 67-year-old Whiting man has been charged with animal cruelty following an investigation into the death of a dog that police say was left unattended inside a vehicle for an extended period during warm weather.

Manchester Township Police said William Bevan Jr. was charged on October 1 with Third-Degree Animal Cruelty in connection with the September incident.

The investigation began on September 3 at approximately 9:00 PM, when Manchester Township Police officers responded to a home on Norwalk Avenue after receiving a report of a deceased dog in the driveway.

The case was turned over to Detective Adam Guker of the department’s Investigations Bureau, who also serves as a Humane Law Enforcement Officer. Police said detectives conducted multiple interviews, completed additional investigative work and arranged for a necropsy to help determine the circumstances surrounding the dog’s death.

According to police, the investigation determined that the dog had been left unattended inside a vehicle for an extended period under warm weather conditions.

Following the investigation and coordination with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Bevan was charged with Third-Degree Animal Cruelty. He was issued a complaint summons and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

The charge is an accusation, and Bevan is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.