MI Man Uses Borrowed Truck As Collateral To Buy Puppy: Police

ALPENA COUNTY, MI — A northern Michigan man was arrested this week after using a borrowed pickup truck as collateral to buy a dog, according to Michigan State Police.

Ronald Lorn Martz, 40, of Alpena, was charged with one count of larceny by conversion greater than $1,000 but less than $20,000. He was placed in the Alpena County Jail with a $2,500 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.

On Monday, the owner of a pickup truck called police and said his Ford F-150 had been stolen in Alpena County, according to police.

The pickup truck owner told police he loaned the F-150 to Martz, according to police.

After the owner asked several times for the pickup back, Martz eventually told him it had been stolen, according to police.

The owner then saw his truck listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace and reached out to the sellers, who told them Martz used the F-150 as collateral for a puppy, according to police.

When Martz failed to honor his end of the deal, the sellers listed the truck for sale online, according to police.

The sellers did not know the truck was stolen, according to police.