An Aug. 9 trial date has been set for a man suspected of stabbing a police dog in the Midway District about a year after he received probation for stabbing another police dog.
Dedrick Daknell Jones, 36, pleaded not guilty to all charges which include felony assault upon Hondo, the police dog, brandishing a knife at an officer, and felony animal cruelty. He waived his right to have a speedy trial.
His attorney, Denis Lainez, told San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch he will file a motion seeking to dismiss some of the charges in a future hearing. Groch appointed one judge to hear that motion, and Lainez promptly challenged that judge. Groch said he will pick another judge for the hearing set for May 19.
Jones waived his right to have a speedy trial. Jones remains in jail without bail because his probation has been revoked on the previous 2021 case involving the stabbing of Titan, who was seriously injured and lost about 6-inches of the colon.
Both incidents occurred in the Midway District when people called police over trespassing complaints at businesses and Jones would not surrender a knife. Officers sent police dogs to apprehend him and he allegedly stabbed both dogs.
Jones complained that it wasn’t necessary to send a police dog after him, but officers warned him he had to drop a knife or he would get bitten, according to court testimony. The most recent incident occurred at the 3700 block of Riley Street on Dec. 17, 2021, when a business owner claimed Jones had damaged her car and threatened her.
The woman did not testify and Jones was only ordered to stand trial on charges involving the assault of the police dog. Hondo was stabbed twice and recovered quickly after about a week, but Titan recovered after a month. Both are back on duty.
His attorney said the business owner was incorrect about Jones vandalizing her car and making threats to her. “My client was minding his business,” said Lainez. Jones was living in a tent in the Midway District and was asleep when officers showed up, said Lainez.
Jones pleaded guilty to animal cruelty by using a knife and resisting arrest in the first incident and received a year in jail. He was released after serving five months and became homeless again in the Midway District.
With his prior record, a prosecutor said Jones could receive a maximum 15-year prison term if convicted of all charges. Police Chief David Nisleit has called upon authorities to prosecute Jones “to the full extent of the law” so this would not occur a third time.
