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Updated: White Rock woman accused of dog theft arrested, charged with breaching conditions

Better Life Dog Rescue founder Janet Olson faces bail hearing on Wednesday
Jan Olsen - A better life Dog rescue EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Janet Olson

A White Rock woman scheduled to go to trial next year on multiple dog-theft related charges has been arrested again in connection with the investigation.

Acting on a tip from the public, officers with Surrey RCMP's Property Crime Target Team arrested Janet Olson at her White Rock home Thursday afternoon, Sgt. Drew Grainger confirmed.

"As a result of the tip, our members were able to obtain a search warrant which confirmed that we had enough evidence to substantiate a charge that she was still operating a business, allegedly… which was one of the conditions to not do as a result of her release," Grainger said Friday.

"We did find… information that gave our officers reasonable grounds to believe that the offence of breaching her recognizance had taken place."

By Monday, Olson had been charged with two new counts of breaching her court-ordered conditions of release.

Olson's lawyer, Craig Sicotte, said his client would appear before a Surrey Provincial Court judge on Wednesday morning for a bail hearing.

Sicotte told PAN he's been informed about the new charges against his client but was not immediately provided with details.

Charges against Olson – who is a founder of A Better Life Dog Rescue – were first announced last November, after she and Surrey resident Louise Reid were arrested in connection with the theft of a bulldog from a Coquitlam backyard.

Charges against Olson – who is a founder of A Better Life Dog Rescue – were first announced last November, after she and Surrey resident Louise Reid were arrested in connection with the theft of a bulldog from a Coquitlam backyard.

As the investigation progressed, new charges related to other incidents across the Lower Mainland were added and additional women – Christine Carter, Diane Young Hale, Michaela Schnittker and Natalia Borojevic – were arrested.

Prosecutor Michelle Wray told Peace Arch News earlier this month that Schnittker and Borojevic have been diverted to an alternate-measures program.

According to court records, four of the other women charged are due back in court Tuesday

Reid, a driver with Coast Mountain Bus Company, was sentenced Sept. 7 after pleading guilty to stealing two dogs, including the bulldog.

She was handed a conditional discharge, a year's probation and an order to pay $2,500 restitution to the owner of the second dog, an American Staffordshire.

A trial confirmation date regarding the other charges against Olson is set for April 10, 2013; a preliminary inquiry is set to get underway June 7. Five days are booked.

 

 



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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