Roseville larceny suspect apprehended with 5-week-old puppy in jacket pocket

(WWJ) - A pat down performed on a suspect who allegedly swiped thousands of dollars at a Roseville bank yielded a small surprise for police last week.

A five pound surprise with blue eyes, a small nose and four paws, to be exact.

The Roseville Police Department said they pulled a small gray puppy out of the suspect's pocket after they tracked the man down in Detroit several hours after $5,200 was allegedly stolen from the Comerica Bank on Groesbeck Highway on Jan. 16.

According to Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin, the larceny was reported after a person doing business at the bank when a bag containing the money was taken by someone.

The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Brian Askin of St. Clair Shores, was tracked down to Detroit where the puppy was found during his apprehension, much the officers' surprise.

"I don't think anybody at this department's seen anything like it," Berlin told the Detroit Free Press.

Officers took "extreme care to care for it," and managed to get the puppy, who was named Frappy, to the police station before the suspect did, Berlin added.

The Macomb County Animal Control took possession of the puppy, which was described as a female blue-nose pit bull. At an estimated five weeks old, officials said they were concerned calling the puppy as "just a baby baby."

According to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, puppies should not leave their mothers until 8 to 12 weeks of age as they still nurse and bond with their mothers. Most puppies are fully weaned to solid food between 7 and 10 weeks of age, although some puppies switch over sooner.

Jeff Randazzo, Macomb County's chief animal control officer, said the puppy was taken into foster care while Aiken was jailed and turned back over to his possession for a impound fee when he was released on Tuesday.

According to Askin's attorney, Robbie Lang, the puppy was supposedly bought a few days prior to the incident at the bank. Despite being found on his client, he doesn't believe the puppy was with Aiken when the theft occurred.

Frappy was apparently unharmed, Lang said.

Askin was charged with larceny from a person in the alleged incident. He is not facing any animal neglect or animal cruelty charges.

He is due back in court on Jan. 31.

Randazzo told the Free Press that he spoke with Aiken when Frappy was released back into his care, hoping they could have a "coaching moment."

The shelter wanted to help with vaccinating the puppy and getting her microchipped, as well as keeping "an eye on" her, Randazzo said.

Randazzo added that they hoped "to take a bad situation and (make) it better" for both the puppy and the owner.