Suspect Arrested in Felony Animal Cruelty Case 21-062

On March 12, 2021 at approximately 11:20 PM, San Francisco Police officers from the Park District Station responded to the 1600 block of Haight Street regarding a fight, possibly involving a subject with a knife.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim, a 39-year-old male, San Francisco resident who told them that the suspect, later identified as Timothy Darrell Hewitt, 49 of San Francisco yelled something at him as he walked by. The victim was accompanied by his dog, a Staffordshire Terrier named “Maynard,” and a friend. Hewitt sprayed the victim’s dog with pepper spray and the “Maynard” ran into the street. Hewitt then produced a knife and stabbed “Maynard” in the torso. The victim and his friend disarmed Hewitt and held him until police arrived.

San Francisco Police officers transported the victim and his dog to the SPCA where “Maynard” later died.

Hewitt was admitted to a local hospital for medical evaluation and later booked on the following charges: Animal Cruelty Resulting in Death (597 PC), Possession of a Switchblade Knife (21510 (b) PC), Brandishing a Deadly Weapon (417(a)(1) PC).

While an arrest has been made, this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.

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Since 2018, the department has worked in partnership with the California Department of Justice to implement 272 recommendations that aspire to make SFPD a national model of 21st Century policing. Follow our progress at SFPD reform webpage.