Two subjects identified as OSCAR DAVID ORTOLAZA, age 30, and SAMANTHA JOHNNA COPPE, age 28, both of the 6400 block of Hollow Drive in the Borough of East Petersburg face criminal charges associated with the willful abandonment of dogs.

On July 6, 2021, Officer Andrew MCCLOSKEY, was assigned an investigation regarding two separate incidents involving abandoned dogs. The incidents, 86-21-04905 and 86-21-04974, both involved Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department taking custody, housing, and transporting three (3) dogs, on two sperate occasions. The dogs were housed and cared for at the NLCRPD agency licensed kennels located at 860 Durlach Rd in Stevens Pennsylvania before eventually being transported by NLCRPD to the Lancaster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) located at 848 S Prince St in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The first two dogs recovered by NLCRPD took place on 06/24/2021 at approximately 06:30 hours. On this date, police responded to the area of 2000 Miller Rd in East Petersburg Pennsylvania to meet with a complainant who had two (2) found dogs in custody. Police responded and took custody of the two Rottweiler dogs. The dogs were located by the complainant near the area of Graystone Rd & Hollow Dr in East Petersburg Pennsylvania.
The dogs were transported to the NLCRPD to complete a scan for a microchip identification. One of the dogs did return a chip number from Pet Link. The registered owner was identified as ORTOLAZA was contacted. The contact phone number was registered to SAMANTHA JOHNNA COPPE. The two had a registered West Virginia address with Pet Link but currently reside at an address on Hollow Dr in East Petersburg PA.

On 06/24/2021, the owner OROTLAZA was contacted and advised of the fine and procedures associated with reuniting with the dogs. He informed police that his girlfriend, SAMANTHA COPPE would be at station that date (06/24/2021) to retrieve both of their dogs. A second phone number was provided by the owner for contact with the assurance the dogs would be picked up immediately. No one appeared to recover the animals. The next day, 06/25/2021, multiple attempts to contact the owners were made. Messages were left informing that the dogs would be transported to the SPCA if police did not get a response. By the end of the day, subsequently on 06/25/2021 the dogs were transported to the SPCA for further disposition. The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department works in conjunction with the Pennsylvania SPCA for Lancaster County for handling stray, missing and/or lost dogs. The NLCRPD adheres to statutory requirements established under what is commonly known as the “Dog Law” (459-101. Short title). Whenever a dog is transported to the PA SPCA by the NLCRPD the minimum fee for all instances is $350.00 per dog.

On 06/26/2021, in a separate incident, police were contacted by a reporting person stating they had a found a Pitbull puppy near Hollow Dr in East Petersburg PA. The reporting person identified as SAMANTHA COPPE. She stated the dog had no identifiers and was secured in her garage (She instructed the responding officer to enter and retrieve the Pitbull puppy, which was secured in a cage. The puppy was transported to the NLCRPD headquarters to check for identifiers, none were located. On 06/28/21, at approximately 09:45hrs the dark colored Pitbull puppy with a light underbelly was transported from the NLCRPD kennels to the Lancaster County SPCA as a stray dog.

After further vetting into both incidents was conducted, it was determined a deeper follow up investigation was warranted. On 07/06/2021, Officer Andrew MCCLOSKEY, began conducting canvas and survey of the surrounding area to the address on Hollow Dr in East Petersburg. A series of cooperating witness reported that COPPE did have multiple dogs living at the property. They were described at least two rather large dogs, consistent with Rottweilers but did point out two dog cages that were sitting stacked in the driveway. One witness described two “beautiful” Rottweilers, a puppy Pitbull and a Golden retriever as being on location at the home of the defendant at the residence on Hollow Dr.

COPPE filed a false police report with the agency on 06/26/2021. The found dog she reported belonged to her and ORTOLAZA. Multiple eyewitnesses to include independent sources witnessed the Pitbull puppy at the residence on Hollow Dr, and in the care of her and family. The puppy was seen at the address for a substantial amount of time before the date she reported finding it. Reporting the puppy as a found dog circumvents the abandonment process and fees associated. COPPE also acquired a service from NLCRPD that is not offered without a fee. When a dog is transported to the PA SPCA, the minimum fee in all instances is $350.00 per dog. COPPE deceived the NLCRPD by creating and reinforcing a false impression and failing to correct such.

When ORTOLAZA failed to pick up his two Rottweilers after NLCRPD police informed him they were being housed at the NLCRPD facility, he thus committed the offense of animal abandonment. ORTOLZA also intentionally obtained the service of housing and transport for his abandoned dogs. He was informed of all fees associated, to which he intentionally avoided payment. ORTOLAZA did wish to relinquish the two Rottweilers and used the service provided by NLCRPD to circumvent the process with and fees associated with the SPCA. Upon notice by NLCRPD, ORTOLZA did fail to act and retrieve his dogs. By abandoning all three dogs in the manor he did, ORTOLAZA committed a theft, he intentionally withhold property of another by deception that totaled $1,050.00 from the NLCRPD in conjunction with the Pennsylvania SPCA for Lancaster County. After reviewing all the facts, circumstances and evidence associated with this case, charges are warranted and filed in the local MDJ court for both SAMANTHA JOHNNA COPPE and OSCAR DAVID ORTOLAZA. Charges were filed by summons. All subjects are presumed innocent.