Travonte Tate received the maximum sentence for stabbing Rock Hill Police K9 Officer Apollo during an arrest on August 28, 2025. The incident underscores the risks faced by law enforcement animals in high-stakes pursuits.
Incident Details
Police responded to a domestic violence call on Martin Avenue where Tate, 35, had chased and threatened a 56-year-old woman with a knife. After fleeing, Tate was tracked and apprehended by K9 Apollo, but he stabbed the dog multiple times before officers disarmed him.​
Sentencing Outcome
Following a guilty plea in York County, Tate was sentenced to five years—the statutory maximum—for cruelty to a police dog, plus a concurrent or consecutive eight-year term (sources vary slightly on concurrency) for resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.
Apollo’s Recovery
Apollo was rushed to an emergency vet in critical condition post-surgery but has fully recovered and returned to duty, hailed as a hero in the community.
