WASHINGTON — The nightmare is over, for Jaineen Brown. On Saturday, June 29, her dog Yurman was stolen from her.
She told WUSA9 she was walking the 2-year-old French Bulldog near Fort Davis Street, SE, when a driver pulled up in a black car, and someone got out of the back seat and pointed a gun at her.
"I'm screaming. He picked my dog up by the back of his neck and he jumped back in the car and sped off," said Brown in an interview with WUSA9 on July 1.
On Saturday, she got a bunch of calls from a number she didn't recognize.
"I got a couple of missed calls. Just like everybody else I don't pick up unknown callers," said Brown.
But then, she got a text from the number.
"The person texted me 'Please call me back'," she said.
Brown called the number and said the person on the other end of the phone told her they thought they had her dog.
"He starts talking and I just kept interrupting 'Can you please send me a photo? Can you please send me a photo? I need to see if that's my dog'," she says she told him.
They sent her a photo. "Yurman has a birthmark on his chest. I knew immediately that was my dog," she told WUSA9.
She says he told her he bought the dog for $2,000 and that he didn't want to involve police.
"I was like well the 6th District Police Department has $10,000, that's a better deal. He was like no I don't want to be involved with the police department," said Brown.
Then began Brown's first go at organizing a sting operation.
"Detectives and undercovers suggested that we tell him we gotta stop at a couple different ATMs to gather the money," said Brown.
They agreed to a meeting spot, and moments after the person arrived with Yurman, police made their move.
Brown says she's grateful to have her pup home.
"We've been eating a lot of Costco chicken and he's been sleeping a lot," she said.
But, you won't find them going on any more walks through the neighborhood.
"Oh no, no, no we don't walk. Girl, no we don't walk, We go to the backyard. There will be no more of this sidewalk stuff," said Brown.
She tells WUSA9 it's a sad situation, but unfortunately, this is the world we live in. She's also created a Facebook page for other French Bulldog owners.
"Just sharing information on how we can keep our dogs safe," said Brown.
D.C. Police say they arrested Raphael Lamber Loundermon II, 27, and Khaliah Johnson, 27. Both have been charged with extortion and receiving stolen property. Police are still searching for the actual thieves.
If you have information, call the police at 202-727-9099 or you can text your tip to 50411. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
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