A dog was reunited with its family after a woman was carjacked at a Clearfield gas station Sunday while her dog remained inside the vehicle.
Clearfield police arrested the 31-year-old suspected thief early Thursday and seized evidence after serving a search warrant. The stolen car was later found abandoned in Salt Lake City, but the pet dog — a 7-year-old, brown-and-white Shih Tzu named Reo — was not inside.
The suspect invoked her right to remain silent and refused to speak with detectives about the carjacking, police said.
The dog was found safe on Saturday morning after the family received a tip that Reo was seen at a homeless encampment in Salt Lake City. The dog was allegedly dropped off by the arrested suspect to a random family at the camp, according to a news release from the department, and the family at the encampment was unaware the dog was stolen.
The woman is being held on suspicion of aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, vehicle burglary, criminal trespassing and theft related to the dog and property, police said. The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not name defendants unless they have been charged with a crime.
(Clearfield Police Department) Reo, a 7‐year‐old Shih Tzu, was still inside when a thief stole a woman's car in Clearfield.
The carjacking happened at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday at a Maverik gas station located at 709 S. State Street in Clearfield, according to police.
The 74-year-old victim was inside the gas station store when a woman stole her keys, then tried to make off with her car. When the victim attempted to stop the thief from leaving, the thief struck the victim with the stolen car, causing survivable injuries — including a broken arm.
The thief then drove off from the scene eastbound on State Route 193 in Clearfield. The car was later recovered near 2300 N. Redwood Road.
Follow @ScottDPierce