Pit Bull Killed After Attacking Deputy: Police

A dispute over a $6 cab fare ended in the the death of a pit bull, Will County Sheriff's police said.

A taxi driver with Telecab called police at around 3:30 a.m. July 5, saying he had transported two people to a home in the 500 block of North Briggs Street, but hadn't been paid for his services.

The driver told police the passengers, a man and a woman, told him they were going to go in the house and get the $6 they owed him — but failed to return with the money.

Deputies who arrived at the home attempted to make contact with the passengers, Joyce Lewandowski, 49, and Charles Bregenzer, 36, but they refused to open the door, police said.

Sheriff's department spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said Lewandowski eventually shouted to deputies that if they didn't leave, "she would let her crazy dog out and it would tear them up and eat them alive."

Deputies continued to try to convince Lewandowski to speak to them. Instead, Hoffmeyer said, she pushed the storm door open, hitting the deputies and knocking them backwards. 

Another deputy restrained Lewandowski, Hoffmeyer said. At that point, Bregenzer allegedly came out of the home with his 80-pound pit bull.

Bregenzer allegedly ignored deputies' orders to restrain the dog, police said. Hoffmeyer said both Lewandowski and Bregenzer appeared to be intoxicated.

Hoffmeyer said the dog charged a deputy and bit him on the leg. The deputy shot the dog twice, killing it.

Lewandowski and Bregenzer were both arrested and booked into the Will County jail on charges of theft of labor, according to jail records. Lewandowski was also charged with battery, and Bregenzer was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.