The Newcastle United defender became the subject of an extraordinary police response after a member of the public reported seeing him and a friend carrying archery equipment near a reservoir at Harlow Hill on Wednesday.
Officers were sent to the area before the pair were stopped in a vehicle in Darras Hall, around seven miles away. The bow and arrows were seized, but Northumbria Police subsequently confirmed that they understood the equipment was for recreational use and that there was no threat to the public.
The episode has since taken on an almost farcical quality, particularly after Dedić appeared to make light of it himself.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has not given a formal account of what happened, but he responded to a Newcastle social media post announcing his selection for the upcoming international fixtures by sharing a GIF of Legolas from 'The Lord of the Rings'.
The fictional elf is famous for his archery skills, making the reference an unmistakable nod to the incident. The comment attracted more than 20,000 likes, with supporters clearly enjoying the player's response.
There is an obvious question over how an ordinary-looking piece of recreational equipment became the subject of such a substantial police response. A report from a concerned member of the public prompted officers to investigate, but the outcome was that the men posed no threat and the equipment was understood to be for recreational use.
The distinction matters. Carrying a bow and arrows for recreation is not in itself illegal in the UK, although hunting animals with such equipment is prohibited. There has been no suggestion that Dedić or his friend were hunting or intended to harm anyone.
The police were entitled to check a report involving a weapon in a public place, but the scale of the episode looks rather disproportionate in hindsight, given the explanation officers reached.
The situation was made even more unusual by the chance arrival of Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and former defender Paul Dummett, who happened to be nearby and stopped to offer assistance while officers were dealing with Dedić and his companion.
The defender, who joined Newcastle from Benfica in the summer, is expected to remain available for the club despite the incident. There has been no indication of disciplinary action from the club.
For now, Dedić appears content to let the Legolas joke do the talking. What began with a public report, a police search and confiscated archery equipment has ended with a social media gag that Newcastle supporters have clearly appreciated.