Not-guilty plea to throwing dog to death
The defendant accused of breaking into a car and throwing a Chihuahua to its death from a San Francisco parking garage pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday in a brief court appearance.
Wakeen Best, 35, was charged with felony counts of auto burglary, animal cruelty and vandalism. Best was also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of burglary tools, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a dirk or dagger, and violation of a stay-away order.
Best is currently being held without bail on a separate felony parole case. On Tuesday, Sheriff ’s Department officials said Best is a man who occasionally identifies as female. But in court on Wednesday, the judge addressed her as “Miss Best” and attorneys used female pronouns when referring to her.
Best was charged in connection with an incident that led to the death of a 4-year-old Chihuahua, named Dunky, found dead outside the Stockton Street Tunnel near Sutter Street around 2 p.m. Saturday, police said. The owner’s car was found with smashed glass next to a trail of blood leading to the railing of the SutterStockton Garage’s seventh floor.
“Any time you have allegations such as this, it’s very disturbing, especially against a helpless little animal,” said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorney’s office.
Best has prior convictions for felony auto burglary and other crimes, and last served time for a car break-in committed in the same garage in 2016 and spent 64 days in jail. Best was released on Jan. 12, just a month before the car break-in that resulted in Dunky’s death.
Saturday’s incident is the latest in a string of attention-grabbing car break-ins in San Francisco. Valuables that range from tablets and laptops to more exotic items such as an Olympian’s skates and an ash-filled urn have been taken from vehicles.
On Feb. 1, a man caught breaking into a car intentionally ran over a plainclothes police officer during the bust in Alamo Square, police said.
More than 30,000 auto burglaries were reported in San Francisco during 2017, the worst year on record. Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15