Suspects who stole 4 English Bulldog puppies lead officers on multi-state pursuit, police say
An armed burglary suspect fired a gunshot as officers responded, leading them on a pursuit, police said. That suspect is in custody but another is still on the run, according to the police.
The burglary suspects are accused of stealing four two-week-old English Bulldogs from a home on Moores Chapel Road in west Charlotte Friday night. Now, the puppies are back home and the homeowner thanked the police for their safe return.
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Officers responded to a breaking-and-entering call at the home just after 9:30 p.m. Friday.
When officers approached the suspects, police say one of them fired a single gunshot. Police said the suspect who fired the shot then jumped into the homeowner’s vehicle and led officers on a pursuit, which ended across the state line in Fort Mill.
Law enforcement in South Carolina helped Charlotte-Mecklenburg police with the pursuit, the ground search, and the suspect’s arrest.
York County deputies rescued the four puppies, who they found stuffed in a bookbag when they arrested one of the suspects.
The puppies are relaxing back at home, and their owner is grateful.
“I’m glad to get all of my pets back and I’m glad that nobody was at the house when all this happened,” the homeowner said. “Anything else, I could have always gotten back.”
The suspect who fired the shot was identified as Tyron Watson, 24. He is facing the following charges: Second-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, felony conspiracy, larceny of motor vehicle, and possession of burglary tools.
The homeowner had surveillance video of the suspects. In the video, one of the suspects could be seen walking around the victim’s car before stealing it.
The suspects might have thought they were in the clear because there was no burglar alarm, the homeowner said. However, police were alerted because of the cameras.
The homeowner said the suspects were surprised by police, and that was when one fired a shot. It doesn’t appear that the officers were fired upon or targeted, according to investigators.
In the video, one of the suspects could be seen running back into the home after the shot before sprinting back out.
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“I thank Mecklenburg for responding so quickly. If they wouldn’t have responded so quickly you know it could have gone south. My girlfriend literally could have come here by herself and been out here and something happened to her,” the homeowner told Channel 9.
The homeowner said they had only lived in the area for a year and the situation has left him traumatized.
“It hits home when it’s actually at home. And it shakes you up a little when it’s the house you actually live in,” the homeowner said.
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