On September 9th around 10 p.m., one of our deputies was dispatched to the Bonney Lake area to take a report of a stolen puppy. The victim owns a licensed, family-run business that breeds Australian Labradoodles and had arranged for one of her puppies named Sherbert to be adopted. The suspect contacted her about purchasing the puppy, but instead of providing payment, he took the puppy and drove away.
Thankfully, good photos of the suspect, his clothing, and his vehicle gave our detectives a great starting point for their investigation. Over the following days, detectives and deputies worked diligently to identify the suspect and locate the stolen puppy.
On September 16th, their investigation led them to an apartment complex in the 3000 block of Pioneer Way E in Puyallup, where they located the suspect’s vehicle. With a search warrant in hand, deputies made contact with the suspect, a 35-year-old male, who was arrested for felony Theft in the 2nd Degree and felony Possessing Stolen Property in the 2nd Degree. The suspect was also wanted in other states for felony crimes, and he will be extradited at a later time. Investigators also located the same clothing the suspect was wearing when the puppy was stolen inside the bedroom where he was arrested.
Sherbert was safely returned to his owner, and it was clear just how happy he was to see them again. We are incredibly proud of the work our deputies and detectives put into this investigation. Their dedication and persistence helped bring Sherbert home where he belongs. We hope this sweet pup finds a permanent, loving home in the future!