SDSU Police Chief charged with felony animal cruelty

BROOKINGS — The Chief of Police at South Dakota State University has been arrested and charged with five felony counts of animal neglect after Brookings Police found dogs living in a home he owned in horrendous conditions.

Timothy Heaton, 59, owns a residence at 1008 Third Street in Brookings where, according to court documents, dogs were found living in neglected conditions that included feces piled up to a foot deep.

According to the documents, the Brookings Police Department received multiple complaints about the residence and began an investigation.

"Witnesses reported that the residence appeared abandoned, the dogs were never seen outside, and loud barking and strong fecal odors came from inside the home," the documents state.
Officers responded to the complaints on multiple dates and observed that the home appeared abandoned and in disrepair.

According to the report, on Nov. 23 several German Shepherds were observed
with fecal matter on their paws by one officer.

BPD personnel went on to document strong odors of urine and feces coming from the home and that the dogs were apparently living there alone with no access to the outside.

That documentation was enough to establish probable cause for a search warrant that BPD executed on Dec. 3.

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.

Based on those findings, Heaton was arrested on five felony charges of animal neglect on Friday, Dec. 5.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as events warrant.

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