The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is reviewing whether to file criminal charges in the case of a Long Beach police dog who was found dead by his handler in their department-issued car in August, police announced today.

An internal affairs investigation into the dog’s death is still in progress, a police spokeswoman said, but authorities revealed for the first time today that a criminal case was presented to the DA’s Justice System Integrity Division on Sept. 13.

“The Police Department will be notified once the District Attorney’s Office completes their review to determine next steps,” spokeswoman Aranxta Chavarria said.

The DA’s office didn’t immediately answer questions about the case.

Ozzy was a drug detection dog in the department’s investigations bureau. Police said today that his handler has been temporarily reassigned within the bureau.

Ozzy died while he and his handler were off-duty, police said. A veterinarian determined his death was heat-related.

Police have not yet said how long Ozzy was left in the car or where but originally said they believed his death was accidental and the car’s cooling system malfunctioned. The department has also declined to release the handler’s name.

Ozzy’s death has been met with small protests in the community demanding an independent investigation into the officer.

“As a result of this tragic incident, the department completed a review of all our K-9 vehicles to verify both the cooling and warning systems are properly functioning,” Chavarria said. “In addition, all K-9 handlers will continue to check their heat system controller prior to every shift as a part of daily protocols.”