By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Tuesday announced that Isaiah Gurley was indicted for animal cruelty, arson, criminal mischief and other crimes for allegedly killing a male pit bull before burning the body on a public street in South Ozone Park on July 24. The dog, named Square K, was a relative’s service animal.
Gurley, 29, of Jamaica, was arraigned Tuesday on a seven-count indictment charging him with aggravated animal cruelty, arson in the fifth degree, harming a service animal in the second degree, criminal mischief, in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree and petit larceny.
According to the charges, on July 24, at approximately 9 a.m., an NYPD lieutenant out on an unrelated assignment observed the charred remains of a dog on the street in the vicinity of 127-20 116th Ave. in South Ozone Park. The NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad was notified, and an investigation was launched.
Photo Courtesy of Google
“This dog suffered needlessly, and we have no tolerance for animal abuse in Queens County,” DA Katz said.
Nearby surveillance was pulled and showed Gurley walking into First Class Deli on Rockaway Boulevard at approximately 4:40 a.m. on July 24. He was seen picking up a bottle of oil and leaving the store allegedly without paying.
Approximately five minutes later, Gurley was allegedly seen on video footage dragging an unconscious dog by the leash along 116th Avenue. He then stopped and allegedly used the oil to douse the dog’s body and set it on fire. The fire was set close to several cars.
Upon releasing an image of Gurley to the public, the NYPD received a 911 call on July 28 from someone who spotted the defendant at a Foot Locker at the Queens Center mall. Gurley was arrested by members of the 110th precinct.
A post-mortem examination by the ASPCA determined that the dog was killed before being set on fire and that it had suffered a blunt force trauma injury to the head.
“This dog suffered needlessly, and we have no tolerance for animal abuse in Queens County,” Katz said.
If convicted, Gurley faces up to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison.
