Lede: A 29-year-old man was arrested in Arvada on October 10, 2025, for allegedly abusing three puppies, following a previous hit-and-run incident last year that resulted in a fatality.
Authorities identified Tyler Willbanks as facing two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty related to the deaths and injuries of the puppies. The incidents reportedly occurred between November 2024 and July 2025.
Willbanks previously was involved in a hit-and-run crash in September 2024, which resulted in the death of 66-year-old David Brlej. While no charges have been filed concerning this incident, police hope the animal cruelty case may yield new evidence.
In May, Willbanks reportedly took a three-month-old puppy named Maverick to a veterinarian and claimed the dog had fallen down stairs. However, the pet was euthanized due to severe injuries inconsistent with such a fall. Another puppy, Axel, was euthanized in July after suffering head trauma, which Willbanks attributed to a futon fall.
A third dog, recognized as either Oakley or Blu, faced multiple injuries leading to surgeries over several months. Investigators believe this case exemplifies a longstanding pattern of animal abuse dating back to 2019, including other animals as reported.
Authorities began investigating after a tip about Willbanks's alleged pattern. They also aim to gather further witness accounts regarding the 2024 hit-and-run, which was preceded by a road-rage encounter at a car wash.
According to police, the decision not to charge Willbanks for vehicular homicide was made due to insufficient evidence currently available.