WARREN, Mich. – A Warren man is facing charges after police say he refused to return a family’s lost dog and demanded cash for the animal’s return.
The 21-year-old man from Warren has been charged with one count of receiving and concealing stolen property valued between $200 and $1,000, a one-year misdemeanor, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Dog’s escape sparks social media search
It started as a simple accident.
Leslie Richardson’s sons let their black-and-white Alaskan Klee Kai out without chaining it.
Disel then slipped out through a hole in the backyard fence.
“We’ve had him for about a year. He’s been a headache, but we love our buddy,” Richardson said.
The family posted about Disel’s disappearance on multiple Facebook pages, hoping someone in the community would help bring him home.
Demands flood in
Instead of tips, Richardson said his family began receiving messages demanding money.
A call came in from a VOI number, asking for $200.
Then came a Facebook message: pay $20. When the family agreed to pay only if the dog was returned in person, the demands escalated.
The person even threatened to harm the dog.
“So that’s when we decided to get the police involved,” Richardson said.
Shortly after, he says his mother-in-law received a message from someone claiming to have purchased Disel off the street for $600 and wanting reimbursement.
Police track down Disel
Warren Police Detective Daniel Toth said the department used investigative techniques to trace the communications back to a phone number.
“We went out to this address in Warren. Knocked on the door and sure enough, there was a dog barking,” Toth said.
He said the suspect acknowledged knowing the dog belonged to another family but refused to hand Disel over.
After he was observed leaving the residence, investigators took him into custody.
A second person inside the home then cooperated with officers and surrendered Disel, who was reunited with the Richardson family.
“It’s a terrible situation. They lose their dog, and then someone is trying to exploit them for financial gain,” Toth said.
A warning for pet owners
Toth added a word of caution for anyone posting about a lost pet online.
“Just be cognizant of who you’re talking to. If something doesn’t feel right or look right, it probably isn’t right,” he said.
Richardson said he’s heard from others who experienced similar demands involving the same type of untraceable phone number. He also noted that doctored photos of Disel were sent during the ordeal.
“With the use of AI now, it’s getting bad,” Richardson said.
Tips for protecting yourself when searching for a lost pet
- Hold back key details. Keep a few identifying facts private that can be used to verify someone truly has your pet.
- Ask for proof immediately. Request real-time video, use the pet’s name, or ask for a specific location detail.
- Never pay up front.
- Choose a safe meet-up spot. This can be a police station or an animal shelter.
The suspect was given a $1,000 cash/surety bond. His next court date has not yet been scheduled.
Investigators are continuing their digital forensics analysis to determine the full scope of the incident.