REPO AMATEUR HOUR: They Repossessed a Chihuahua

The Dog Was the Collateral. The Investigation Took Two Weeks. Presumably, the Chihuahua Wasn’t Using an Alias.

Lake Panasoffkee, FL – October 1, 2026 – Repossessions come in all shapes and sizes. Cars trucks boats motorcycles, heavy equipment and, apparently, Chihuahuas.

A Florida couple found themselves behind bars Wednesday after allegedly attempting what can only generously be described as an amateur repossession of a $400 Chihuahua that had previously been given to a 68-year-old man to settle a debt.

Yes. There was a debt.

Yes. There was collateral.

And yes, somebody apparently decided it was time to take it back.

According to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office cited by Villages-News, 41-year-old James Levi Dame had allegedly stolen items from the elderly man. Dame’s girlfriend, 40-year-old Randi Michelle Barnett, reportedly didn’t have the money to repay him, so she offered something else of value.

A Chihuahua.

The dog was valued at $400 and, according to the report, was given to the victim to settle the debt. That probably should have been the end of the transaction.

Apparently, it wasn’t.

The Repo

On September 17, Barnett allegedly went to the victim’s camper at Sunny Shores RV Park in Lake Panasoffkee and asked to come inside. While the two were talking, the victim reportedly spotted Dame standing in the doorway and told him to leave.

Dame allegedly had other plans.

REPO AMATEUR HOUR: They Repossessed a Chihuahua — Dame

According to the arrest report, he entered the camper, grabbed the Chihuahua and handed it to off to Barnett like a football, and she took off!

When the 68-year-old demanded his Chihuahua back, Dame allegedly shoved him backward onto his bed. The man struck his arm on the bed railing and was left bleeding.

That maneuver would generally fall somewhat outside accepted industry standards for a peaceful recovery.

Surveillance video from the RV park reportedly captured the couple leaving with the Chihuahua while the victim yelled after them.

The Investigation

What followed was apparently a challenging case.

The victim knew the suspects. The suspects knew the victim. Investigators knew what had allegedly been taken. They had surveillance video reportedly showing the suspects leaving with it.

And the stolen property weighed roughly six pounds and answered to a name. Apparently, the “repo” couple that weren’t the only amateurs.

The investigation took two weeks. TWO WEEKS!

Deputies finally encountered Barnett and Dame during a traffic stop on Wednesday the 30th. Barnett allegedly refused to exit their white Ford Explorer, telling a deputy she couldn’t unbuckle her seatbelt with one hand.

The deputy solved that particular problem somewhat faster.

He cut the seatbelt.

Barnett was arrested on charges of theft from a person 65 or older and resisting an officer and was being held on $3,500 bond. Dame was charged with theft from a person 65 or older and burglary with battery and was being held without bond.

Both are accused and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

As for why it took authorities two weeks to crack the Great Chihuahua Repo, the arrest report may contain answers not included in the published account.

Fortunately, investigators had surveillance video, the victim knew both suspects, and presumably the Chihuahua wasn’t using an alias.