A 24-year-old man from Airdrie is facing charges after a disturbing incident in BC.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. this past Monday in the downtown area of Windermere, a community located south of Invermere, Columbia Valley RCMP say a local woman left her dog inside her running vehicle while she went into a store.

When she returned, her Toyota Rav4 was gone, however moments later she caught sight of it driving past her and was shocked by what she witnessed.

"[She] could only watch as the auto theft suspect tried to push her dog out of the moving SUV," says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesman for the BC RCMP Southeast District. "In doing so, the dog’s leash became caught in the door resulting in the dog being dragged for a distance of approximately one block."

Thankfully, the dog's owner believes either his collar broke or he was able to slip out of it.

The Husky Hound Shepherd Cross named Indy required stitches for numerous abrasions and lacerations. Despite being pretty banged up, Indy is expected to make a full recovery.

RCMP responded immediately to try to locate the stolen vehicle. They were able to get a description of the suspect from nearby video surveillance.

Within an hour, officers located the suspect on foot and found the Rav4 nearby.

Rylan Kinsey of Airdrie was taken into custody and faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle, causing injury to an animal, and three counts of failing to comply with release conditions.

 

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