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.

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