Man arrested in dog thefts

Devonte L. Green, 25, of El Dorado was arrested yesterday on charges of felony property theft. Green allegedly stole several dogs from a woman’s residence off Highway 63.

In September, a woman told a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office that she was staying with her in-laws in El Dorado due to an illness and had to leave her dogs at her residence in the county. She said a friend was pet-sitting for her. She had three dogs, one pit bull that was black with a spotted chest, and two twin pit bulls who were both black. One of the dogs stayed inside her house while the other two were outside in a fenced area.

The woman said she’d found out earlier that month that two of her dogs were missing. She said she found out from her brother that he had contact with Green, who allegedly told him he saw the dogs on the side of the road and picked them up.

The woman said her fiancé then contacted Green, who said he would return the dogs. After that, the woman said Green blocked her from contacting him and had yet to return the dogs.

Yesterday, investigators with the UCSO found Green at the Rainbow Food Mart on Mt. Holly, where they arrested him. Sheriff Ricky Roberts said none of the dogs were recovered at that time; however, one of the dogs’ owners was apparently able to locate one of the dogs on their own, he said.

“We haven’t been able to recover any more, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to keep trying,” Roberts said.

For felony theft of property, Green could face six years in prison. He will appear in district court this morning for his first appearance. Animal control officer Charles Hartsell said Green has previously been cited for minor animal ordinance infractions.

“It’s just sad when people are stealing dogs for whatever reason they’re doing it, because a lot of people think of dogs as part of [their families] now. People get attached to them,” Roberts said. “I’d hate to know someone stole my little dog.”

Hartsell said he will continue to search for the still missing dogs. He said he was thankful that the UCSO and the arresting officer in particular were able to help.

“We’ll work with [the arresting officer] and see if we can locate these other dogs and go from there,” Hartsell said.