BWC: Officers detain man suspected of burglarizing pet store, find gerbils in pants

By Lauren Liebhaber
The Charlotte Observer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man is accused of breaking into a pet store and setting many of the animals loose, police said.

Trending

Federal law enforcement

DHS: ICE officer’s face severely injured by detainee amid escalating violence toward officers

The Houston-area officer sustained facial burns and a cut requiring 13 stitches after a suspect threw a metal coffee cup at him, the Department of Homeland Security stated

November 07, 2025 10:59 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Officer-Involved Shootings

BWC: Suspect repeatedly rams cruisers, pins Chicago officer between vehicles before fatal OIS

As Chicago officers blocked in a suspect with two cruisers, the suspect began to accelerate forwards and ram both vehicles; as officers approached, he pinned one to a cruiser

November 06, 2025 12:32 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Arrests and Sentencing

Suspect who shot and wounded Texas officer, K-9 taken into custody, ending 4-day manhunt

Days after shooting a Jacksonville PD officer and her K-9 partner, Bobby Michael Dennis was found hiding in a wooded area and taken into custody using the officer’s handcuffs

November 06, 2025 11:15 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Artificial Intelligence

Fla. sheriff’s office cuts down dispatcher OT by automating non-emergency calls with AI

AI assistant “Ava” handles a range of lower-priority issues for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, such as noise complaints, minor traffic issues and potholes

November 06, 2025 12:50 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Columbus Division of Police officers responded to reports of a break-in at a restaurant in the Hilliard shopping center around 3 a.m. July 9, WBNS reported.

Authorities learned that Petland, about 100 yards away from the restaurant, was also broken into, the station reported.

According to police, the door to the pet store was open and animals, including dogs, birds, ferrets, rabbits, and gerbils, were roaming free, WCMH reported.

Authorities rounded up several animals that were also found loose outside the store, WSYX reported.

Police found the suspect about an hour later, according to WCMH.

“We recovered several gerbils inside his pants,” Sgt. Joe Albert said in an interview with WBNS.

Petland owners told WSYX that several dog kennels were smashed with a rock.

A veterinarian was called to examine the animals, the station reported.

It is unclear what charges the suspect will face.

—

©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.