Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Chuck Hasty said Raphael D. Faulcon Jr., 20, of Littleton, faces charges of larceny of a dog and possession of stolen property.

The police department took the report December 18, the owner saying someone removed the dog from her yard without permission.

The dog, which answers to the name Duchess, is a brown and white pit bull with a red nose. The dog was wearing a pink collar when last seen.

Investigator Bobby Martin identified Faulcon as the alleged suspect in the case.

Martin confirmed the dog belonged to the mother of the victim in the February case and said the case could be related to that matter. “We know there's been domestic issues that would tend to make one possibly believe it's related to the other,” he said this afternoon.

Faulcon has not been arrested in this case and the dog has not been located. “The victim is very heartbroken over her missing pet due to the pet being like one of the family,” Martin said in a statement.

The February chase began at the intersection of Old Farm Road and Becker Drive. It ended at Faulcon's home on Roper Springs Road.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Faulcon or Duchess is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.