Friday, March 14, 2008

Teenager charged with trying to extort money in bunny heist

A Portland 17-year-old is being held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center after allegedly trying to extort money from another teenager by kidnapping and threatening the victim’s pet bunny.

The 17-year old, who police would not identify because of his age, is accused of breaking into a 16-year-old’s apartment on Deane Street and stealing the grey pygmy rabbit. He then telephoned the 16-year-old demanding payment of a $100 debt.

“He threatened to injure the bunny”, said Lt. Tony Ward, head of detectives for the Portland Police Department. He also told the 16-year-old’s mother that the rabbit would only be returned once the debt was paid.

The mother called police.

Police recovered the rabbit in good condition from the suspect’s mother. They charged the 17-year-old with burglary and theft in connection with the March 4 break-in and with robbery, assault and terrorizing in connection with a confrontation between the two boys Friday where police said the older one stole the other’s skateboard, backpack and pocket money.

When police arrived to arrest the 17-year-old Monday, he resisted, Ward said, leading to additional charges of failure to submit to arrest and assault. Police would not say why the 16-year old owed the other boy $100.

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