Alleged puppy thief identified

A 20-year-old Mitchell man has been charged with first-degree petty theft for allegedly trying to steal a puppy from a downtown Mitchell store.

Antoine Gay Jr. was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he reportedly grabbed a cocker spaniel puppy from Ed’s Pet World. The store owner, Ed Anderson, chased Gay and a female companion outside the store and retrieved the dog.

Police were called and arrested Gay and the girl, a 15-year-old Mitchell resident.

Mitchell Public Safety Chief Lyndon Overweg said Gay was jailed on the petty theft charge and also because of an outstanding Davison County warrant. He was also charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol by consumption.

Gay was released from the jail Wednesday, according to a jail staffer.

The teen girl was taken to a juvenile facility, Overweg said.

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