Mesa police arrest man accused of stealing woman’s service dog

PHOENIX — Mesa police arrested a man accused of stealing a woman’s service dog, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Geoffrey Washington, 38, had been temporarily staying at the victim’s home and on the morning of Oct. 6, asked the victim if he could take her 4-year-old Rottweiler, Mastiff and Golden Retriever mix named Buddy for a walk.

The owner permitted the walk, but several hours later Washington contacted the victim and told her the dog was now “ours” while refusing to return it.

While investigating, the Mesa Police Department detectives learned Washington was arrested in Phoenix while with Buddy for an unrelated incident.

Detectives later arrested Washington in Phoenix on Oct. 9. He was charged with theft, endangerment and interfering with a service animal.

Detectives located Buddy at the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix and returned the unharmed dog to the victim.

Buddy was initially paired with his owner after she suffered from a traumatic brain injury. The 4-year-old dog is medically trained to detect low blood pressure and alert his owner before she faints. However, while Buddy was away from his owner, the owner fainted and injured her neck.

No other information was made available.

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