MONTICELLO — A police dog stolen from the Monticello PoliceDepartment earlier this month is back at home today after beingrecovered from a kennel in Arizona.

Oran, a fully-trained narcotics dog, was recovered Thursday at akennel in Bullhead City, Ariz., authorities said. He was returnedhome Friday.

“We’ve been hunting that dog for a solid week,” said MonticelloPolice Chief Willard Griffin.

Oran was stolen either late at night April 8 or early in themorning April 9, said MPD Investigator Charles White. The dog waslast seen in the South when it was shipped from New Orleans April9.

Authorities began searching for the dog in Nevada afterreceiving information from a confidential source that a dog sellerhad taken it and shipped the 2-year-old shepherd to a kennel inthat area.

“I’ve just been telling people Oran has been on vacation in LasVegas,” White said.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found Oran in akennel near the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport andcontacted the Bullhead City Police Department (BCPD) to make therecovery.

White praised the efforts of LVMPD Officer David Shibota andBCPD Officer Justin Harms for their work on the case.

“They were Johnny-on-the-spot,” White said. “Within 1.5 hours ofus notifying them, they had our dog.”

Oran was found at Risen Star Kennels in Bullhead City. A kennelspokesperson told police the suspect claimed the Monticello PoliceDepartment was eliminating their K-9 program and wanted to try andsell the dog, according to a report in the Mohave (Ariz.) DailyNews.

Carrie Conner, public information officer for the BCPD, said thekennel has been working closely with the police.

“They are extremely cooperative,” she told the newspaper. “Thedog was extremely well taken care of.”

White said a suspect has been identified in the case and arrestsare expected by the end of the week. He did not comment further onthe investigation, which is continuing.