Man arrested for puppy cruelty

A Wilbur man, who was arrested by Grand Coulee police on Dec. 20, for animal cruelty in the first degree, was jailed in Grant County after appearing Dec. 31, in Superior Court.

Police had been looking for James E. Goodlake, 22, since Dec. 13, when a caller to 911 and another witness reported seeing him abuse a puppy.

The caller reported witnessing Goodlake kick the puppy and then slam it to the ground multiple times.

Police responded, but at the time couldn’t find the suspect.

About 2 a.m. Dec. 20, an officer saw Goodlake walking on Federal Avenue. When the patrol car stopped, the suspect took off on foot, and the pursuit was on, police said.

Goodlake was eventually spotted behind the Grant County PUD office, hiding behind some shrubs. His footsteps in deep snow made it easy to find him.

Police arrested him on the animal cruelty charge and on an outstanding district court warrant for failure to appear in court.

He was taken to Grant County Jail, where he was incarcerated. Goodlake was listed Tuesday as an inmate at the County Work Release Center. Bail was set at $2,500.