Darci Marchese
February 17, 2010 - 5:09pm
With Montgomery County Police Cpl. Dan Fritz in the background - holds her beloved dog
SILVER SPRING, Md. - A woman has been reunited with her pet after a bizarre case of dognapping involving ransom.
Gloria Chicas' 1-year-old poodle, "Scrappy," has been through quite an ordeal.
On Sunday morning, Chicas left her two dogs, Scrappy and Scooby, outside in her Silver Spring backyard. When she went to check on them 15 minutes later, they were gone.
Soon after, Chicas says she got a phone call from a man identifying himself as "Matt." "Matt" said he had her dogs and demanded she meet him at a nearby T.G.I Friday's restaurant with money.
When he didn't show up, Chicas called Montgomery County Police.
While officers were driving to Chicas' home, they found her 2 1/2-year-old golden retriever, Scooby, who had been struck by a car and killed.
Police say "Matt" continued to call Chicas throughout the day demanding money. An officer posing as Chicas' cousin agreed to meet "Matt" and bring $300 in ransom at a McDonald's on Cherry Hill Road.
When "Matt" saw a police car at the meeting place, he ran to a nearby Friendly's restaurant. Officers found him in a bathroom stall and arrested him.
Once he was in police custody, "Matt" - who was later identified as 21-year-old Najie Shabay Walker of Silver Spring - told officers Scrappy was in his sister's car in a nearby parking lot.
Scrappy, who was not harmed, was reunited with Chicas.
Walker is charged with theft under $1,000 and another theft charge related to the case. Cpl. Dan Fritz says additional charges are pending.
At a press conference Wednesday, Chicas began to cry when officers showed a photo of her other dog, Scooby.
Chicas calls Walker a "dangerous" person, and says she doesn't want any money from him -- just for him to be in jail.
Fritz says he's never seen a case quite like this in his 16-year career.
Source: http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=706&sid=1890931
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