Oxnard Man Admits Killing Police Dog

An Oxnard man could face more than six years in prison after pleading guilty to stabbing a police dog to death.

Timothy Knight, 21, entered his plea in court Thursday in the killing last year of an Oxnard police dog named Rudy.

Knight pleaded guilty to exhibiting a deadly weapon to a police officer to resist arrest, and harming, interfering with or obstructing a peace officer’s dog.

Both charges are considered violent felonies and count as two strikes on his criminal record, Deputy Dist. Atty. Cheryl Temple said. In California, three strikes guarantee an automatic life sentence.

“It’s certainly a serious crime,” Temple said. “He better not screw up again.”

According to court testimony, Knight was wanted on an outstanding warrant when on the evening of April 19, 2002, an Oxnard officer attempted to pull him over for allegedly not wearing a seat belt.

Knight got out of his car, brandished a knife and ran. The dog, which was riding with Officer J.R. Perez, was sent running after Knight.

The dog was stabbed once in the lower chest and punched repeatedly, and was the first Oxnard police dog to die in the line of duty.

Through his attorney, Jay Leiderman, Knight expressed his apologies about the incident.

“He wishes he can take it back,” Leiderman said. “He just wants to have a life. He wants to have a family, have a future and he’s going to work to make that happen.”

Knight could face a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 8.