SUDBURY -- A 42-year-old Timmins man has been charged with several offences following the theft of a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever in February.

At the time of the incident, police were called to a north end residence "regarding a dispute that centered on a dog being taken and withheld from its lawful and rightful owner," police said in a news release Thursday.

An investigation revealed the canine had been taken from its rightful owner, and police tried to resolve the dispute.

"Timmins Police Service officers exhausted all reasonable efforts to resolve the matter between the aggrieved parties," police said.

Police had to get a search warrant for the Emilie Street residence, where they were able to return the black lab to its owner on July 11.

The suspect was located later the same day by police, when he "became assaultive towards the responding Timmins Police officers, but was eventually subdued and taken into custody," the release said.

He is charged with theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest.

He was released from custody but will return to Provincial Court in Timmins on Sept. 8 to answer to the charges.