UPDATE: FOUND, EXONERATED: The Man in Slippers, with the Little White Dog

Update 4:35 p.m. Friday:

After police asked the public for help in finding the man in slippers with the little white dog, authorities were able to identify him, Police Chief Leon Krowlikowski has announced.

“This individual has been identified,” the chief said in an emailed announcement Friday afternoon. “Through an investigation we determined a criminal act was not committed.”

Original article, Thursday:

New Canaan police are asking for the public’s help in finding the man in slippers with the little white dog who, they say, passed a counterfeit $2 bill at the downtown Mobil gas station.

The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 at the gas station, located at 16 South Ave. He used the phony money as part of what he paid for some chewing tobacco.

After that, the last the clerk probably heard of him was the pitter-patter of little feet. Not his — he was in slippers — but the dog’s.

His picture accompanies this article. Have you seen him? Do you know who he is? Taken any $2 bills from him? And why does he wear slippers when out walking that dog?

New Canaan police say: “The [...] individual is wanted for questioning by the New Canaan Police Department. Those with information about this individual’s identity and/or that have information about this incident should contact Sergeant Peter Condos of the NCPD Detective Bureau at: 203-594-3522.”

New Canaan Patch in its previous report on this incident (“Would Anyone, Dressed Like This, Knowingly Pass a Phony $2 Bill Downtown? Anyone?”), gave this police description of the suspect: About 18 or 20 years old; white; with brown hair; wearing a blue, zip-up fleece jacket; a white undershirt; blue, plaid shorts; brown slippers and walking with a small, white dog.

And he may be chewing tobacco.