SFPD Arrests Animal Cruelty Suspect #26-085
Collaboration with SF Animal Care and Control on investigation led to identification and arrest of suspect
On July 2, 2026, SFPD officers became aware of an animal abuse incident being investigated by San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC). Officers learned that the day prior, a male entered a bank ATM vestibule on the 1800 block of Market Street around 2 a.m. with a small kitten and proceeded to violently torture the animal to death. The suspect then fled with the dead animal.
San Francisco Animal Care and Control took the primary lead in the investigation. Since the incident occurred in the City and County of San Francisco, SFPD assisted with the investigation.
SFACC obtained a warrant for pertinent information about the suspect that led to identifying him as 33-year-old William Ohlson of Reno, Nevada. Through the course of their investigation, officers with the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC) and the Real Time Investigation Center (RTIC) were able to locate the suspect at a hotel on the 100 block of Fell Street in San Francisco.
On July 14, officers served a search warrant at the hotel and were advised by an RTIC Drone as First Responder (DFR) operator that the suspect had fled the room onto the roof of an adjacent room.
SFPD officers requested the assistance of the San Francisco Fire Department due to the suspect’s location, and members of the SFFD responded with a truck and ladder to assist SFPD in safely apprehending Ohlson on the roof.
The arrest of the suspect was a result of close collaboration between the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Animal Care and Control through the course of the two-week investigation.
The SFPD would like to thank the San Francisco Animal Care and Control for their diligent investigation into this disturbing incident and collaboration on this arrest, as well as the Reno Police Department and the San Francisco Fire Department for their assistance in the investigation and apprehension, respectively.
Ohlson was booked into San Francisco County Jail No. 1 on charges of animal abuse and neglect (597(b)PC) and resisting or delaying arrest (148(a)(1)PC).
Although an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text-A-Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
SFPD CASE# 260-387-484