A couple sleeping in a stolen car on North Whidbey walked away after police arrived and left a dog and possessions behind, according to court documents.

Prosecutors charged a suspect, 35-year-old Frederick Vanbenschoten, in Island County Superior Court Dec. 13 with possession of a stolen vehicle.

On Nov. 26, deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a dispute at a travel trailer on Stellar Lane and found Vanbenschoten and a woman sleeping in a nearby Subaru car. After resolving the fight, the deputies checked the car and discovered that it had been stolen. Vanbenschoten and the woman had walked away before deputies realized the car was stolen, according to a deputy’s report.

While waiting for the car to be towed for impoundment, a deputy looked inside and saw something moving in the back seat. A dog nose emerged from under a blanket. In addition, a large purse, a pipe and a baggie of suspected methamphetamines were found, the report states.

Deputies contacted the car owners, who live in Port Townsend, and let them know that it had been recovered. Court documents don’t indicate what the deputies did with the pooch.