Man suspected of false report after dog found in Audrain County

A Mexico, Missouri man has been arrested on suspicion of filing a false affidavit and making a false report after he told authorities he found a dog with its paws and muzzle taped over the weekend in Audrain County.

Carl Nowlin Jr., 43, had reported late Friday or early Saturday that he found the dog walking along Highway 54, the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The dog was taken to the local animal shelter for care.

In the release Sheriff Matt Oller said investigators found out the dog had been seen at a gas station in the Eldon, Missouri, area before it was found in Audrain County. Surveillance video from the station showed Nowlin loading the dog into his van a few hours before he reported finding it in Audrain County, Oller said.

Nolin admitted during interrogation to picking up the animal and taking it to Audrain County, and that he lied about the dog being bound with tape, Oller said. Authorities found the rightful owners of the dog, named Hershey, who are from the Eldon area, he said. The family said Hershey went missing about a week ago.

Oller said charges of animal theft will be sought in Miller County.

Nowlin posted a $1,500 bond and was released from the Audrain County Jail, Oller said. Information about the Audrain County case was not available in online court records Thursday afternoon.