CRESTVIEW — A Crestview man's 18-day ordeal ended May 12 when he reunited with his beloved pit bull, Migo.
Wade Bean, who reported Migo missing in April, credited Crestview Police Sgt. Raymond Harp with his dog's safe return.
"… He called at about 7 (p.m.) saying he had info on (the) case," Bean said.
A few minutes later, Harp and his wife showed up in their personal vehicle, with Migo in the back seat, according to Bean.
Friends surrounded the two and celebrated the moment right along with them.
"I cried like a baby," Bean said as he discussed the reunion.
From everything he’d heard from area residents by phone, in person and on Facebook, he thought Migo was stolen by people who use pit bulls for dog fighting and breeding in North Okaloosa County.
He first shared his story with the Crestview News Bulletin and it caught Facebook fans' attention with 17,000 views, 275 shares and numerous readers sending wishes for Migo's safe return.
When asked how that reunion came about, Bean said no charges were pressed, so he had no information about how officers located the dog.
Harp said that the police department had enough leads to develop a suspect. He called the suspect and talked to his wife and told her that Bean would accept the dog back without pressing charges.
"The suspect contacted us and we retrieved the dog and returned it," Harp said.
When asked how Migo seems to be taking the return, Bean said, "He's now shy of new folks and looks to me for permission before meeting someone new, but he's so, so, so happy to be home."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'So, so happy to be home'