A wanted felon was arrested following an hours-long standoff in Congress. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reports 54-year-old Domenic Anthony Asprella was arrested Thursday afternoon. He’d been wanted on more than 100 counts of animal cruelty and had been on the run for four years. Deputies tried to contact him at a home on South Grandview Drive around 7:30 a.m.
After confirming he was inside and refusing to cooperate, a SWAT team and crisis negotiator were called in. After several hours of negotiation, Asprella surrendered peacefully around noon.
Animal control officers recovered 39 cats and one dog from the property. Officials say most of the animals were in good health. Sheriff’s Office officials say animal abuse will not be tolerated.