Washington: Gale Polley, 63, charged with animal cruelty in dog's death

WASHINGTON -- A Gleed man has been charged with first-degree animal cruelty in the stabbing death of his dog Saturday.

Gale H. Polley, 63, was charged Thursday in Yakima County Superior Court, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andrew White said. In addition to the animal cruelty charge, Polley also was charged with making false statements to law enforcement after authorities say he lied to Yakima County Sheriff’s deputies about how the dog died.

Polley initially told deputies his dog, which was found dead on the road in the 600 block of Pence Road Saturday afternoon, had run off and been hit by a car, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by investigators.

But deputies said a veterinarian’s examination found the dog had multiple stab wounds and did not appear to have been hit by a car.

Two of Polley’s neighbors told deputies that he admitted stabbing the dog to death. One of them reported hearing the dog “screaming.”

Yakima County Superior Court Judge Richard Bartheld released Polley under court supervision while awaiting trial, and ordered him to turn over any knives with blades longer than 4 inches.

(Yakima Herald-Republic - June 30, 2016)

Earlier:

• Washington: Gale Polley stabs dog to death in Sun-Tides Mobile Home Park, say cops