UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- State police in Uniontown have charged a man doing community service at an animal shelter with breaking into the agency, but have stopped short of charging him with stealing two puppies that remain missing.

Twenty-year-old Craig Rugg, of Connellsville, is jailed on charges he broke into the Steve Courson Humane Society of Fayette County on Saturday.

Police say a witness drove Mr. Rugg to the shelter and watched Mr. Rugg break in through a basement window. Mr. Rugg has been performing community service at the shelter since June 26 as part of a probation sentence.

Police say Mr. Rugg told them he tried to steal a safe, but has denied taking the puppies.

First Published: July 8, 2009, 1:30 p.m.