A former Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer has been arrested, accused of dognapping.

Lori Holland, 41, of Winter Haven, is charged with one count of robbery and one count of burglary.

According to the affidavit, Holland went to the home of 82-year-old Rosa DiCesare on Dec. 29 and stole a chihuahua named Mojo.



Deputies say Holland previously owned Mojo but gave him to DiCesare a few weeks ago because she (Holland) could no longer care for him.

Deputies say a few days later, Holland showed up at DiCesare's home, telling her that she wanted to drop off more items for Mojo.

Instead, deputies say Holland forcibly took the dog from DiCesare. After Holland's arrest, the dog was returned to DiCesare.



According to the sheriff's office, Holland was hired in 2008 as a customer service representative, and has been transferred to different units within the agency. Her most recent transfer was to Animal Control as an animal control officer in February 2012.

She resigned from that position upon her arrest late last evening. However, deputies say she would have been immediately suspended pending termination had she not resigned.



Holland was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $2,000 bond.

