Sunnyvale: Man accused of trying to extort money for dog’s return

A man was arrested for allegedly trying to extort money from a family in Sunnyvale to return their lost dog, the city’s Department of Public Safety said Wednesday.

The suspect was arrested after investigators were notified Monday evening that a family was contacted by someone who said he had their dog, Norm, who had run off.

The man demanded money from the family “or else they would never see their dog again,” the Department of Public Safety said on social media.

Public safety officers helped the family to set up a meeting, then waited in unmarked patrol cars for the man to arrive with the dog. He was taken into custody, and Norm was reunited with the family at their home.

The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of offenses including extortion and grand theft.The department on social media shared a photo of the family with the dog.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.