A 29-year-old man who last year was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash was separately arrested Thursday on suspicion of abusing three puppies in what Arvada police believe is part of a years-long pattern of animal abuse.
Tyler Willbanks was arrested on suspicion of two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty and a single count of misdemeanor animal cruelty in connection with the death of two puppies and the severe injury of a third between November 2024 and July, according to a news release.
Willbanks was also the driver in a September 2024 road-rage hit-and-run crash in which he ran over and killed 66-year-old David Brlej. He has not been charged in connection with Brlej’s death, but authorities hope the animal abuse case might unveil new leads in the hit-and-run case.
In the animal abuse case, Willbanks is accused of bringing one puppy, Maverick, to a veterinarian in May and claiming the three-month-old dog fell down stairs. The puppy’s injuries, which were more severe than would be expected with a fall, were not survivable, and the dog was euthanized, police said.
Another puppy, Axel, was euthanized in July after suffering head trauma and bleeding in its brain, which Willbanks claimed was due to a fall from a futon, according to police.
And the third dog, a two-and-half-month-old puppy named, at times, both Oakley and Blu, suffered four broken bones in four incidents between November 2024 and January, police said. The dog underwent three surgeries and survived.
Arvada police investigators believe the three injured puppies are part of a larger pattern of animal abuse that dates back to 2019 and additionally includes two kittens, a cat and another puppy, they said in a news release Friday.
Chase Amos, spokesman for the police department, said the older cases could not be charged because the statute of limitations — which sets time limits on when criminal charges can be brought after the crime occurs — had expired.
Investigators hope the publicity around the animal abuse case will encourage additional witnesses to come forward in the 2024 hit-and-run case.
In that incident, Willbanks got into a road-rage dispute with another driver, Brlej, that culminated in a confrontation at a car wash at 14835 W. 64th Avenue.
Willbanks pulled into the car wash after an initial confrontation. Brlej followed, got out of his car and approached Willbanks’ car, Amos said.
Willbanks then drove off, striking and killing Brlej.
In an interview with police, Willbanks claimed he was afraid for his life when Brlej approached his car, and said he drove off in a panic and thought he hit a curb. He said he came forward after realizing he’d actually hit Brlej, Amos said.
“It was a difficult decision in the DA’s office, but ultimately we were all in agreement that right now there isn’t enough to charge Tyler with vehicular homicide or manslaughter, but we want any additional evidence we can get,” Amos said.
Police began investigating Willbanks for animal cruelty after an anonymous tipster alerted officers to the alleged pattern. The tipster also said that Willbanks was telling people he’d “gotten away with” a crash in which he killed a man, according to Arvada police.