SDSU police chief jailed on animal cruelty charges

Brookings Police seize dogs following investigation into Chief Timothy Heaton

The Brookings Police Department arrested the South Dakota State University Chief of Police Timothy Heaton Friday, charging him with five counts of cruelty to animals.

Heaton, 59, was arrested following an investigation that resulted in five German Shepherd dogs being seized from a residence in the 1000 block of Third Street. The five animal cruelty counts are felonies.

Heaton was awaiting his first court appearance at the Brookings County Detention Facility, the city announced. Follow-up questions from The Dakota Scout were not immediately answered.

SDSU released a statement saying that it was aware of the arrest of its chief and that the university was cooperating with authorities.

“SDSU is working through the process to name an interim University Police Department chief.”

The university declined further comment, citing an ongoing legal investigation and because it’s a personnel matter.

“SDSU’s priority remains committed to ensuring safety, integrity, accountability and ensuring the continued operation and safety of our university community,” the university said in its statement.

SDSU provides year-round police services 24 hours a day, according to the SDSU website. The officers are trained and certified and have full law enforcement authority.

“The department is responsible for protecting the campus community, ensuring a safe environment for continued education and research, providing enhanced security for the campus infrastructure and large scale public events, investigating crimes, providing uniformed patrol, deterring and detecting criminal activity and other policing services as needed,” according to the SDSU description of the department.