BELLEVILLE – A 22-year-old woman has been charged with aggravated robbery after authorities said a seller trying to complete a Facebook puppy sale in unincorporated Belleville was allegedly threatened at gunpoint and had the dog taken.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said its emergency communications center received a call at 9:41 p.m. July 23, 2026, reporting an armed robbery in the 7700 block of Myrtlewood Drive.
According to the sheriff’s department, the victim said she had been contacted on Facebook about selling a 2-month-old Havapoo puppy for $650 to an individual she was familiar with. The victim said that when the woman arrived to buy the puppy, she wanted to hold the dog.
While the suspect was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, the suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim and fled with the puppy in the vehicle, authorities said.
Deputies and investigators began developing leads to locate the suspect, the sheriff’s department said. On July 25, 2026, the suspect’s vehicle was located, and she was taken into custody by troopers with Illinois State Police Troop 8.
Investigator Christian Gatlin presented the case for charges, according to the sheriff’s department. Assistant State’s Attorney Airika Detmer issued a charge July 25, 2026, against Lakendra L. Taylor, identified by authorities as a 22-year-old woman. Taylor was charged with aggravated robbery, a Class 1 criminal felony.
“The puppy was located and has been returned to the owner thanks to the diligent efforts of all involved with this case,” Lt. James Hendricks of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said in the release.
All persons charged with a crime are innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
