Edmonton police said the theft of a puppy in mid-March was solved and the stolen pet returned to her rightful owner, after officers stopped a stolen vehicle more than a week later.

Back on Wednesday, March 15 at about 5 p.m., an Edmonton woman went to a grocery store in the area of 115 Street and Kingsway Boulevard with her dog Bella, a 6-month-old Stafford Bull Terrier. She attached Bella’s leash to a picnic table outside the store while she went inside quickly.

When she came out, Bella was gone, and it appeared someone had cut the leash and taken the dog.

The incident was reported to police Friday, March 17, and officers in Northwest Division started investigating.

On Monday, March 20, police said the EPS Canine Unit stopped a stolen vehicle in the area of 118 Avenue and 82 Street – investigators later determined the driver was also a suspect in Bella’s disappearance. He was arrested and charged in connection to the stolen vehicle.

Days later, Bella was recovered from the suspect’s home, and the suspect is now facing more charges.

Now, David Murtagh, 34, is facing a number of charges including disqualified driving, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and theft under $5,000.