Former chief gets 60 days

BROOKINGS — The former chief of police at South Dakota State University will spend 60 days in the Brookings County Detention Center after pleading guilty and being sentenced to one count of felony cruelty to animals.

Timothy Heaton, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of felony cruelty to animals and was sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary on the charge by Circuit Judge David Wheeler on Tuesday, May 19 at the County Courthouse in Brookings.

Wheeler suspended execution of that two year sentence, however, and instead sentenced Heaton to 60 days in the Brookings County Detention Center.

The four other counts of felony animal cruelty originally filed against Heaton were dismissed as part of a plea agreement with the state.

Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar represented the government in the case. Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson was conflicted out of the case because he and Heaton worked together when Heaton was still Chief of Police at SDSU.

Haggar did not respond to requests for comment from The Beacon.

Heaton was arrested on Dec. 5, 2025 on the five charges stemming from an investigation by the Brookings Police Department.

A home Heaton owned near Third Street and Medary Ave. in Brookings was found in extreme disrepair and five German shepherds were found living there in inhumane conditions, according to police reports.

According to the documents, when officers searched the home: “A strong odor of feces was detected from outside, and multiple dogs were heard inside upon arrival. Five German Shepherds were removed from the residence and transported for veterinary evaluation.

A full search of the home revealed extreme unsanitary conditions, including: “large amounts of
fresh and old dog feces, urine-soaked floors, heavy dust, dog hair, clutter and thick cobwebs. The residence had no heat (thermostat reading 10°F), frozen water pails, unusable kitchen and
bathroom areas and structural damage from a prior fire. The basement and second floor
contained extensive piles of dog feces, in some areas estimated to be up to a foot deep.

Conditions inside the residence were unsafe for human or animal habitation.”

The documents go on to state that Timothy Heaton acknowledged ownership of the residence and responsibility for the dogs’ living conditions.

A later veterinary evaluation revealed multiple indicators of neglect and abuse, including gingivitis, broken and fractured teeth, feces matted in the hair, malnourished conditions, sores on the feet, abscess in one’s ear and other concerning medical issues.

The documents went on to state that Timothy Heaton acknowledged ownership of the residence and responsibility for the dogs’ living conditions.

Heaton originally pleaded not guilty on Jan. 5 in Brookings. He changed his plea to guilty to the one count at a hearing in early March.

Each of the five counts represented a class 6 felony in South Dakota and carried a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment in a state penitentiary, a fine of up to $4,000, or both.

SDSU replaced Heaton as police chief the day the charges were made public last December.

Heaton was listed on the BCDC jail roster as of press time.

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and welcomes story tips and comments at BrookingsBeacon@gmail.com