Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On 12-20-2013, at approximately 1:07 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a man was in the middle of Purdue Drive, Eureka stabbing his dog with a large knife. Deputies responded to the scene, arriving within two minutes of the call. When the initial deputy arrived he met with the suspect’s roommate who told the deputy the suspect fled the scene on foot. The roommate showed the deputy the dog that had been stabbed which was now chained up in the rear of the residence. The dog had a large laceration to its right shoulder that needed immediate medical attention. A Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer was dispatched to the scene.

The suspect was identified as Westley Wendel Wright, 43 years old from Eureka. He was last seen heading in the direction of South Bay Elementary School on foot. Additional deputies arrived in the area to search for the suspect and South Bay Elementary School was notified by the Sheriff’s Office of a possible armed suspect in the area. South Bay Elementary School locked down the students as a safety precaution while deputies searched the brush for the suspect.

At approximately 2:00 p.m. Wright was located in a field behind South Bay Elementary School. Wright was taken into custody without incident.

The knife, which Wright used on the dog, was recovered at the residence. The dog, named “Little Bit”, a female Pitbull Terrier was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment and is expected to survive her injuries.

Wright was arrested for felony cruelty to an animal and an outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrant for driving under the influence and possession of concentrated cannabis. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked. His bail was set at $35,000.00. 

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.