A Gresham man who reported his 9-month-old dog had been stolen during a robbery is now the suspect in an animal abuse investigation.
In mid-November, Christian Myles told police four people attacked him while he was walking in downtown Gresham. Myles claimed the suspects stole his German Shepherd / Rottweiler mix, Shayla, and fled in a white SUV. Myles was highly intoxicated and was unable to provide an exact location where the alleged robbery took place.
Several days later, following extensive media coverage, a community member brought Shayla to the Gresham Police Department. Multnomah County Animal Services took custody of Shayla when efforts to reach Myles were unsuccessful.
At the same time, Gresham Police continued investigating Myles’ initial robbery claims. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from multiple businesses. They located footage of Myles with Shalya near a bar in downtown Gresham. The video showed Myles repeatedly striking Shayla. Within minutes, Myles became involved in a physical altercation with a patron of the bar. During that altercation, a different community member took Shayla, out of concern for the dog’s safety.
Based on their investigation, detectives have determined Myles’ statement that he was robbed by four individuals was a lie. Detectives are attempting to locate and arrest Myles for Aggravated Animal Abuse in the First Degree, Initiating a False Report, and other crimes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Justin Pick at Justin.Pick@GreshamOregon.gov.
While the Gresham Police Department is grateful a concerned community member took action to ensure Shayla’s safety, their subsequent efforts to informally find her a new home were inappropriate and potentially illegal. Anyone who witnesses an animal being abused should call 911.
Shayla remains in the care of Multnomah County Animal Services.
Source: Gresham Police