San Francisco Man Charged After Dog Strangled in Public

Man Charged After Dog Strangled in Public Incident

The San Francisco District Attorney announced on Wednesday that Charles Wentworth, 46, has been charged in connection with the death of his dog in a public incident in San Francisco.

The District Attorney stated that Wentworth faces a felony charge of unlawfully killing an animal. The charge stems from an event that police said occurred on Monday, during which Wentworth is accused of strangling his pit bull, named Smokey.

Police Response and Witness Accounts

According to police, officers were first alerted to the incident at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Multiple callers contacted law enforcement to report that a man was assaulting his dog in public.

Court documents state that witnesses reported seeing Wentworth dragging his pit bull by its leash. Witnesses further described that, at one point, Wentworth began choking the dog by lifting it into the air using its leash and collar.

The District Attorney said witnesses saw the dog go limp, collapse to the ground, and become unresponsive. These details were included in the account of what occurred prior to officers arriving at the scene.

Condition of the Dog When Officers Arrived

Court documents indicate that when officers arrived, Wentworth was still allegedly dragging the dog by its leash. The documents state that the dog’s tongue was hanging out of its mouth at that time.

Authorities have identified the dog involved in the incident as a pit bull named Smokey. The dog was described in official accounts as unresponsive following the reported strangling.

Prosecutors Seek Detention Pending Trial

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office stated that it will seek to keep Wentworth detained while he awaits trial. The District Attorney said this request is based on what they cite as an alleged public safety risk.

The felony case against Charles Wentworth proceeds under the charge of unlawfully killing an animal, as announced by the District Attorney on Wednesday in San Francisco.