Man charged with pet scam

PALMER -- A Willow man who claimed he found two lost pets and allegedly tried to get the owners to pay him rewards told officers he had a warped sense of humor.

But the woman who reported her lost cat didn't think it was funny. The couple that lost their dog didn't think so either. And Alaska State Troopers definitely weren't laughing.

David K. Hayes, 28, was charged with two counts of second-degree theft and one count of harassment, all misdemeanors, as a result of the two November incidents.

Hayes allegedly phoned a woman at about 1:30 a.m., Nov. 2, claiming to have found her lost cat, which he read about in a Frontiersman ad offering a reward. The reportedly woman told troopers she had offered him $20 but he refused and demanded $500.

According to court documents, the woman told police the man was rude and cruel on the telephone, but she finally agreed to pay him $500 for the return of her cat. Immediately upon hanging up, she reportedly dialed *57 to obtain the number of the person who phoned her.

Troopers ran a check with Matanuska Telephone Association and obtained the name and address registered to the phone number provided.

Another woman called troopers on the same day to report that a man called her residence and said he had possession of her dog. She said she had lost her dog two weeks earlier and had placed an ad in the newspaper, though she offered no reward.

The caller refused to identify himself and allegedly demanded $500 for the dog, the woman said.

"She said she offered $100 but that the man said he is an opportunist and he wanted $500," court documents state. "She told him she would have to think about it and hung up, but did not dial *57."

Five minutes later the man reportedly called back. This time the woman turned the call over to her husband, reportedly saying she was too upset to speak with him.

Her husband reportedly took the call and again offered $100. The man allegedly declined, insisting on $500.

Troopers Eric Spitzer and Craig Evans went to the home the MTA phone number was registered to. There was reportedly no sign of any cat or dog there. The owner wasn't home, but Hayes answered the door. Court documents state he denied any knowledge of the calls.

About 45 minutes later, the indictment shows Hayes was again interviewed over the phone by Spitzer. Hayes reportedly told the trooper that a man whom he had never seen before came to his door about midnight and asked to use the phone. The man made two calls and left, Hayes said.

In another trooper interview five minutes later, Hayes reportedly said he had a warped sense of humor. He said he saw the ads in the paper and decided to play games with the women, according to charging documents.

According to court filings, Hayes made a recorded apology to the women.