Man calls dog to testify in his defense

There was an unusual appearance in a Florida courtroom after a man fighting a traffic citation subpoenaed an officer to testify.

But it wasn't just any officer. This one has four legs.

For all intents and purposes, things went pretty smoothly in judge Peter Bell’s courtroom on Thursday.

That is until Rodney McGee showed up and demanded K-9 officer Azor be present.

Even McGee was a bit surprised to see him.

“They told me they weren't going to allow him,’ McGee said after the court hearing.

McGee had sent the dog a subpoena to testify in his defense for a citation for failing to use his turn signal.

Azor's handler, Deputy Franko, had brought the dog to McGees' traffic stop in February, thinking McGee had drugs, but he came up clean.

“I was hoping that they would let me plant marijuana in the courthouse to see if he could find drugs,” McGee said.

Judge Bell did not allow that motion, and ultimately, McGee lost his battle and the court fined him $300 for failing to use his turn signal.

But he says that's ok, he knows he made history today.

“I’m the first one in Charlotte county to subpoena a K-9 officer!”

The motion ended up costing taxpayers several hundred dollars in wages and overtime for the half-dozen deputies who were brought into court to testify for the defense.