A Minneapolis man is now facing criminal charges after police say a brief online romance went sideways and ended with a stolen dog. According to court filings and surveillance video cited in the case, investigators allege he repeatedly showed up at a woman’s Bloomington home before taking her three-legged, half-coonhound, half-lab mix from the yard. Police say the dog was later brought back.
Authorities arrested Akhil Miryala and charged him with second-degree burglary and stalking, according to KARE 11. The outlet reports the two matched on a dating app and went on two dates in February. When the woman told Miryala she did not want to keep seeing him, he allegedly contacted her 30 to 40 times over about two weeks, looked up her address, and then came back to her yard several times.
Security Footage And Court Records
Court documents reviewed by investigators say security video appears to show Miryala trying to lure the dog with food or treats. The records state that he later returned the animal at about 10:45 p.m., according to KARE 11. In an alleged statement to police, Miryala told investigators he “stole the dog to get the woman’s attention,” the documents say, which is one spectacularly bad way to handle a breakup.
What The Law Says
Under Minnesota law, burglary in the second degree can bring a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. Stalking is charged at different levels depending on the behavior involved and can be a gross misdemeanor or, in aggravated cases, a felony that can also carry up to 10 years or a $20,000 fine. Those possible penalties are outlined in state statutes at Minn. Stat. § 609.582 and Minn. Stat. § 609.749, which also list the conditions that can raise harassment or stalking to felony charges.
Next Steps And Safety Notes
Police say charges have been filed and the case is set to move through Hennepin County court, although details about arraignment or bail have not yet been made public. In situations like this, officials and victim-advocates often urge anyone who feels harassed to save messages and call logs, report them to law enforcement, and take basic precautions such as limiting how much personal information they share on dating apps. They also recommend making sure pets are microchipped and supervised when outside, especially if there are signs that unwanted attention is starting to cross the line.
