Story by Ethan
On September 30th, 2025, the arrest of Isaiah Gurley, age 29, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Isaiah Gurley was charged with second-degree Harming a Service Animal, second-degree Reckless Endangerment, third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Aggravated Animal Cruelty, fifth-degree Arson, and Petite Larceny. The arrest and charges against Isaiah Gurley were a result of an investigation handled by [Officers/Detectives].
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 9:00 a.m. on July 24th, 2025, an on duty NYPD Lieutenant was tasked with another unrelated assignment in the area of 127-20 116th Avenue in South Ozone Park, New York, when he came across the burnt remains of a dog on the side of the street. The lieutenant reported the remains to the NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and an investigation was launched into the matter. Surveillance footage of the area showed an individual, allegedly identified to be Isaiah Gurley, walking into First Class Deli on Rockaway Boulevard at approximately 4:40 a.m. that same morning. Allegedly Isaiah Gurley was seen grabbing a bottle of oil before leaving the store allegedly without paying for it. Five minutes later in the same security footage, allegedly Isaiah Gurley is seen tugging a leash tied to an unconscious dog on 116th Avenue before dosing it with the bottle of oil and setting it ablaze near several parked cars. The NYPD released an image of Isaiah Gurley to the public that led to a 911 call reporting a sighting of the defendant at a Foot Locker at the Queens Center Mall. Isaiah Gurley was located and arrested by NYPD officers of the 110th precinct.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Isaiah Gurley are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
