Man arrested after dragging dead coyote through Santa Rosa, police say

A man was arrested late last week after reportedly dragging a dead coyote through Santa Rosa, drawing the attention of multiple passersby, according to police.

At least four people called 911 about 4:45 p.m. Thursday and reported that a dog was being dragged behind a van headed west on Sonoma Avenue, away from Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Patricia Seffens said Tuesday. The animal, which had been attached by a rope to the interior back of the van, detached from the van near Midway Drive and some callers stopped there to wait for police.

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An officer responded to the area and determined the animal was a coyote and, based on its condition, had been dead for a long period of time.

The man who had been driving the van made his way to the Santa Rosa Police Department station on Sonoma Avenue — a little over a half a mile from where the dead animal was — where he was met by multiple officers. He was in an “altered mental state,” Seffens said, and told police he found the coyote at a construction site and had been bringing it to the department.

Authorities investigated the situation and searched the van, finding some narcotics paraphernalia and two live and healthy dogs. The back doors were open and a rope was tied inside the back of the vehicle.

Investigators are still looking into the situation, but determined the coyote was dead before the man found it and therefore do not suspect the man of animal cruelty, Seffens said. It’s unclear if he had been intentionally dragging the coyote behind the van or if he had placed the coyote inside the van and it fell out as he was driving.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and his van was towed due to its expired registration. The two dogs were turned over to Sonoma County Animal Services.