Police officer pleads not guilty in dognapping case

CEDAR RAPIDS – A Cedar Rapids police officer accused of taking two dogs without permission has pleaded not guilty.

Officer Robyn Obadal, 36, was charged with criminal trespass after witnesses told police they saw her take two dogs from a kennel at 1201 10th St. NW on July 23. She entered the plea Wednesday morning during a brief court appearance in Linn County District Court.

Obadal, who has spent all 14 years of her police career in Cedar Rapids, has denied the allegations. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said Obadal remains on unpaid administrative leave.

According to the criminal complaint, Obadal was on duty when she allegedly entered the back porch of the residence and took two dogs from a locked kennel on the property of Chad Ramey. One witness told investigators Obadal asked for a screwdriver to let the dogs out, according to the complaint. Obadal told the witness she was going to take the dogs home to clean and care for them.

The witness said Obadal then returned the screwdriver and said, “This never happened, please don't tell. I was never here,” according to the complaint. The witness said Obadal put the dogs in her patrol car and left.

After police officials started a formal investigation of the incident, the dogs were found running at large near Ellis Park, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors filed the simple misdemeanor offense, rather than a stiffer burglary charge, because they didn't believe they could prove Obadal had intent to commit theft, based on the evidence.

In an interview with SourceMedia Group after she was released from jail, Obadal claimed the dogs were in unsanitary conditions and animal control had been called to the residence several times in the past. She said the dogs were running loose that Saturday morning, and after putting them in her patrol car for a few minutes, she released them to a man who said he knew the owner.

“I did not break into a house, and I didn't steal somebody's dogs,” Obadal said on July 28. “Anybody who knows me knows I always do the right thing. I don't do the wrong thing.”

Obadal faces up to 30 days in jail if she is convicted. Her trial was set for Sept. 26.