CHANDLER -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now saying he was not behind the arrest of Chandler police Sgt. Tom Lovejoy.

Lovejoy was arrested in September after his canine partner, Bandit, died. Lovejoy left the dog in his hot patrol car for more than 12 hours on an August day when temperature soared into triple digits.

When Lovejoy was taken into custody, Arpaio took responsibility for the arrest.

Now he's saying he didn't make the decision. According to Arpaio, his deputy chief made the call to arrest Lovejoy on charges of animal cruelty.

Arpaio's spokesman said the sheriff told the public he ordered the arrest because "he has the ultimate responsibility" for decisions made in his office.

Lovejoy was slated to go on trial earlier this year, but that was delayed to allow the sergeant's attorney to file a motion to dismiss the animal cruelty charges.

The Chandler Police Department has already disciplined Lovejoy in the case. The department determined that Lovejoy's actions were negligent, but not reckless.