Police Department

Domestic Disturbance Call Results in Serious Injury to Dog

Ofc. Daniel Strassenberg, PIO

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 3:02 p.m.

*** Correction ***

The dog did not pass away but sustained serious injuries.

Original Release

On June 27^th, 2026, Spokane Police responded to a residence in the 3900 block of East Pacific Avenue reference a disturbance. A male called 911 advising there was a dispute over children at the home. 911 call takers could hear screaming in the background. Shortly after that, the caller advised 911 that the suspect had just killed a dog at the location before leaving.

Officers arrived at the location to find a small dog (dachshund) motionless in the front yard. As officers interviewed the involved parties, they were advised that the suspect male was the father to one of the children staying at the residence with their grandfather. Upset that the child’s mother asked that the child remain at the location, the father began arguing with the grandfather. The grandfather advised the suspect was advancing on him during the argument and based on that, sprayed him with pepper spray. During the altercation, the suspect, 36-year-old Marlitto J. Burnley grabbed a small dog out of the caller’s vehicle and forcefully slammed the dog into the ground, killing it. Burnley would drive away before officers arrived.

After speaking with everyone at the home and the presence of the deceased dog, officers developed probable cause to arrest Burnley for animal cruelty.

Burnley would be located a short time later in the area of 14600 N Newport Highway and taken into custody. He was then booked into the Spokane County Jail for 1^st Degree Animal Cruelty.

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