Snohomish man facing animal cruelty charges commits suicide

Published 9:47 pm Thursday, February 25, 2010

SNOHOMISH — A Snohomish man who was facing a first-degree animal cruelty charge for shooting and killing his neighbor’s dog killed himself Wednesday.

The man, 56, had a history of disagreements with his neighbors about their dogs, according to court papers. He was charged Feb. 2 and a bench warrant was issued on Feb. 19 when he failed to appear in court for arraignment.

Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies were called to the man’s home Wednesday morning for a welfare check, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. No one answered the door and the deputies left.

Police were called again just after noon to investigate an apparent suicide, she said.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office said the man died of a gunshot wound and ruled the death a suicide.

The animal cruelty case was dismissed Thursday, prosecutors said.