1 arrested, 3 still at large in French bulldog burglary

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Three of four people suspected of stealing two pure-bred French bulldogs from a Glennwilde home and failing to stop for officers on March 26 remain at large after one of them was arrested, MPD said. 

Darius Villela, age not provided by MPD, of Maricopa, was booked into Pinal County jail on suspicion of burglary (3rd degree) and unlawful flight from law enforcement. Three unknown people also are suspected in the incident, according to a probable-cause statement. 

At 3:23 a.m. on March 26, Maricopa police were called to a home on West Capistrano Drive on a report of a burglary. The caller informed dispatch that someone had jumped into her backyard and taken their two French bulldogs. 

An officer enroute to the home was flagged down by the reporting party’s husband, who told officers he saw and heard what he believed was men jumping over the wall of his backyard. The man stated the men took his dogs, which he valued at $25,000, according to the probable-cause statement. The reporting party’s husband continued to drive around the area looking for the dogs. 

According to a police report, the reporting party told officers she believed the men left the scene in a white Dodge Charger. 

At 3:34 a.m., another Maricopa officer saw a car matching that description travelling west on West Honeycutt Road near the Figueroa Bridge. The officer turned around and drove behind the car near Plainview Street at 47 mph in a 35-mph zone. The officer turned on the cruiser’s emergency lights but the driver of the Dodge did not stop, continuing north on John Wayne Parkway. 

According to Maricopa police, the Dodge turned west on West Edison Road. The officer turned on the cruiser’s siren and drove alongside the Dodge, then pulled back behind it. The driver turned north on Rio Drive where it came to a fast stop. 

Two men wearing dark sweatshirts got out. A third man, wearing no shirt, also got out of the vehicle holding a white French bulldog. All three men ran east through a greenbelt toward West Bahia Drive, Maricopa police said. One officer stayed with the vehicle, directing other officers toward the fleeing men. 

The officer with the Dodge opened the driver’s side door and found Villela in the driver’s seat. He was arrested. A frightened but unharmed brown French bulldog was found on the passenger’s side floor of the Dodge. 

Police reported a strong smell of marijuana in the vehicle, along with packaging from dispensary cannabis products, a dog-kennel cage door and an empty six-round Glock magazine in the trunk. 

Officers heard yelling at a home on West Bahia Drive and contacted the homeowners, who told them they saw someone in their backyard, and now there was a dog in their backyard. They stated they did not have a dog. 

Police informed the husband they had recovered one dog in the Dodge and officers found the other dog. 

The reporting party’s husband positively identified Villela as one of the suspected dog-nappers. Officers searched the neighborhood but did not find the other men.  

Both dogs were returned to their owners. 

The investigation continues, according to Maricopa Police Department.