Stolen puppy returned to owners

SCHOOLCRAFT, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A puppy that was stolen by a supposed "Good Samaritan" has been returned to its owners in Schoolcraft.

On Thursday, June 4, "Emmett," an 11-week-old black lab-pit bull mix was stolen from the Speedway gas station on Grand Street in Schoolcraft.

Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell told Newschannel 3 that Emmett had wandered away from his owner's home, which is next door to the gas station, when he was taken.

A man had come into the gas station, telling the clerks that he would bring Emmett back to his owner's house, but then put the puppy into his truck and took off in the opposite direction. Clerks didn't initially question the man, because they thought he was just trying to be a Good Samaritan by returning the dog to his home.

On Thursday evening, Newschannel 3 ran a story about Emmett, as well as a picture of the man who was thought to have taken him. As a result of that story, someone contacted police, saying that they had seen the man who took Emmett in Middlebury, Indiana.

Police in Middlebury contacted the man, who claimed he had found the puppy, not stolen it. But he cooperated with police, and said that he had given the puppy to another man in Kalamazoo.

On Friday morning, police contacted the man in Kalamazoo who had Emmett, and after finding out that Emmett had another owner, he handed the puppy over to police.

Emmett's owners were so happy to have him back safe and sound, that they decided not to press charges against the man that took him.