A Warren man accused of demanding payment for a dog he knew belonged to another family
Warren police say a 21-year-old man allegedly exploited a family's distress over a missing dog by demanding cash in exchange for the animal.
The dog, an Alaskan Klee-Ka named Diesel, ran away from a home in the 21000 block of Waltham on April 25. The family posted on social media as they worked to find the animal.
Warren police said these social media posts led to a man allegedly messaging the family and demanding payment for the return of Diesel a few days later.
In the messages, the person said he bought Diesel from an unknown person and wanted cash in exchange for the dog. Police tracked this phone number to 21-year-old Lemarzay Tolbert.
When officers went to Tolbert's home, he allegedly acknowledged that he knew the dog belonged to someone else but refused to return the animal.
Tolbert, who allegedly became uncooperative while speaking to police, was taken into custody after police saw him leaving his home. A second person in the home cooperated with officers, and Diesel was reunited with his family.
Police say Tolbert does not have any significant criminal history. He is now charged with receiving and concealing stolen property. He was given a $1,000 cash or surety bond.
"It is truly disheartening that someone would attempt to exploit a family's distress for financial gain, but I am proud of our investigators for seeing through the deception and ensuring Diesel was returned home safely," said Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins.
"The swift actions of our Detective Bureau demonstrate our commitment to the safety and well-being of all our residents, including our four-legged ones," Hawkins said.
"We want to remind our citizens that while social media is a powerful tool for finding lost pets, it also attracts those looking to take advantage of others," Hawkins said.
"Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious demands to law enforcement immediately," Hawkins said.
The information is from Warren police.