Fallen K-9’s funeral to be held Wednesday

Services for an Upstate Sheriff’s Office K-9 that died in the line of duty will be held Wednesday.

Hyco, a German Shepherd, was shot and killed Oct. 21 while pursuing three suspects authorities say fled from a traffic stop in Anderson County. He was 7 years old.

Sergio Montez Martin, 23, of Anderson; David Fitzgerald Morris Jr., 22, of Anderson; and Martavious Shamon Craig, 18, of Seneca, were each charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of cruelty to police dog or horse, according to warrants.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Anderson Civic Center, 3027 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. A graveside burial with honors will follow at the Chris Taylor Park K-9 Cemetery adjacent to the Civic Center near Camson Road and Freedom Way.

The public is invited.

Donations to the K-9 Unit can be sent to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Foundation at 305 Camson Road, Anderson, SC 29625.

Hyco was the sixth police dog to die in the line of duty in South Carolina and the first in the Upstate, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a group that keeps track of fallen officers.

Nationwide, 26 K-9s have died in the line of duty so far this year,

Hyco’s handler was Anderson County Deputy Brandon Surratt.

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 3:33 PM.