Virginia police officer accused of fatally shooting fiancée's dog, fabricating story about a bear attack

A Virginia police officer has pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty in the fatal shooting of his fiancée's dog, which he tried to cover up by saying he accidentally killed the animal while trying to stop a bear attack.  

Richard R. Chinappi III also pleaded guilty to giving a false report to police about how the beagle-hound mix was killed in October at the home the couple shared, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. The 27-year-old Richmond patrol officer is scheduled to be sentenced March 11.

The Powhatan Sheriff's Office received a call from the father of Chinappi's fiancée about an alleged bear attack at his daughter's home, according to a summary of evidence by Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Cerullo.