STARK, Ohio (WOIO) – According to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, it has safely recovered a Belgian Malinois Monday after it was fraudulently claimed from the Stark County Humane Society.
This past Saturday police said 25-year-old Devon Jovel Williams allegedly fraudulently claimed the dog.
Belgian Malinois is a breed of dog that typically fetches a hefty price in the retail market.
On Friday, the Belgian Malinois was brought into the Stark County Humane Society.
The dog didn’t have a collar or microchip without that information, workers couldn’t find the dog’s owner.
They then posted his picture on their Facebook page hoping someone would come forward.
The next day police said Williams and another man arrived at the shelter claiming it was their dog.
Shortly after they walked out of the shelter with the Belgian Malinois – the Humane Society discovered the men were NOT the dog’s rightful owners.
They soon tracked them down but were given the runaround.
They said they didn’t have the dog anymore. Instead, they claimed they gave it to a man who was really its owner.
Turns out that wasn’t the case.
Worried about the dog’s safety, the humane society’s staff lodged a police report — and on Monday they filed an affidavit with Canton’s City Prosecutors Office.
On Monday, people claiming to be the Malinois’ owner also came forward and worked with investigators to prove they were indeed entitled to the dog.
After a thorough verification process, investigators say this dog — named “Enzo” — is now home for the holidays, reunited with some happy owners who have a very good reason to celebrate.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office got a warrant for Devon Williams for one count of falsification in a theft offense (F5) and one count of theft (F5). It is not known if there will a warrant issued for the other man who was with Williams at the time.
Anyone with information regarding Williams’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Stark County Sheriff’s Office at 330-430-3800. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.
They are also looking into whether these suspects are involved in any related incidents throughout the county.
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