The head of South Dakota State University's police department was arrested on multiple charges of alleged animal cruelty.

SDSU Police Department Chief Timothy Alan Heaton, 59, was arrested Dec. 5 for five felony counts of animal cruelty, according to a news release from the Brookings Police Department.

Per Brookings Police, Heaton's arrest came after "an investigation that resulted in five German Shepherds being seized from a residence located in the 1000 block of Third Street."

According to a probable cause statement, a Brookings residence owned by Heaton was the subject of multiple complaints of animal neglect. Witnesses had reported that "the residence appeared abandoned, the dogs were never seen outside, and loud barking and strong fecal odors came from inside the home."

Officers

See Full Page