SMPD Officer Forced to Dispatch Vicious Animal Following Repeated Attacks on Area Residents

Advisory: SMPD Officer Forced to Dispatch Vicious Animal Following Repeated Attacks on Area Residents

MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
FROM THE CITY of SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT

SMPD Officer Forced to Dispatch Vicious Animal Following Repeated Attacks on Area Residents

On January 21st, 2015 at about 9:35AM, SMPD received a report from a frantic male caller who said he was just attacked and nearly bitten by two large pit bulls in the 600 block of Woodside Way. As SMPD officers began responding to the area, 3 more callers reported 2 vicious dogs in the same area that were chasing people including a City Sanitation worker. The first SMPD officer on scene located the dogs running together eastbound at the intersection of Grand Avenue and N. Claremont Street about one city block from the first report, noting both dogs weighing 55 to 70 pounds each. The officer yelled from his patrol vehicle to get the dogs’ attention and both turned their aggression briefly towards him, barking aggressively at him before running away southbound on S. Claremont Street. The officer continued to follow them and watched as they sprinted into the yard of a residence in the 500 block of N. Claremont Street, attacking a landscaper who was forced to defend himself with only a leaf blower as both animals bit repeatedly through the device (Photo Attached).

The SMPD officer diverted the dogs’ attention using his air horn and the dogs sprinted back towards his patrol vehicle, now lunging at the vehicle and attacking the driver side door as the officer tried unsuccessfully to exit the vehicle, with both dogs viciously clawing and biting at the door. (See attached photo). The dogs then ran away southbound on N. Claremont Street, turning eastbound on E. Bellevue Avenue towards the San Mateo High School Campus. SMPD Emergency Dispatchers immediately alerted school staff to keep everyone indoors.

Additional SMPD officers arrived on scene hoping to move their vehicles into a position to safely contain the vicious animals, a process made more and more difficult as the dogs moved quickly and grew more aggressive as the situation evolved rapidly. On the northeast corner of E. Bellevue Avenue and N. Claremont Street officers watched as the dogs sprinted towards a woman with two children in a stroller, forcing the woman to shield the children with her own body as the animals grew closer. Officers used their horns and voices to again divert the dogs’ attention, causing the dogs to turn away from the woman. The dogs then proceeded westbound on East Poplar Avenue where they barked aggressively at a second woman and small child waiting in the crosswalk before the dogs’ attention was redirected a third time by officers on scene who were still attempting to safely corral the aggressive pit bulls.

Officers then watched as the animals ran westbound on East Poplar Avenue towards the Stanbridge Academy campus. Unable to corral the dogs as they now moved aggressively towards a second school campus with children present and based on the obvious and repeated vicious behavior of the dogs, as well as the continuing imminent threat of great bodily injury or death that their actions continued to present to the community, one SMPD officer used his patrol vehicle to strike both dogs within the 500 block of East Poplar Avenue. One dog was killed instantly and the second was knocked to the ground before regaining its balance and retreating to its residence less than 1/4 mile away. SMPD Officers then surrounded the residence to protect the public from further harm and awaited arrival of San Mateo County Animal Control and the dogs’ owners. Animal Control eventually seized the second dog with the assistance of the owners.

While still at the residence, SMPD received report of an adult female who was bitten by both of the dogs prior to SMPD arrival, suffering puncture wounds and lacerations to her lower leg and bicep. She was subsequently medically treated and released with minor injuries after being interviewed by SMPD Investigators.

The San Mateo Police Department is first and foremost committed to the preservation of life and we are saddened that the vicious actions of these two animals forced our officer to take action in defense of the general public that led to the dog’s death. It is always our first intention to respond to and remedy aggressive or wild animal incidents in the most humane manner possible. It’s unfortunate that the events of this incident did not allow for that to happen. SMPD would like to recognize the dog owners who cooperated fully with our investigation and demonstrated great remorse for their dogs’ behavior during the incident. Losing a family pet is never easy under any circumstance and their cooperation and compassion for the public and the responding officers was noteworthy and greatly appreciated.

MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY
Today’s unfortunate events demonstrate the inherent danger of loose dogs in a residential environment. SMPD would like to remind our community that leash laws exist to reinforce the responsibility of pet owners to control their pets in public - remember to regularly check your security measures to contain your pets, and always use a leash when in public.

SMPD would also like to remind our community that it is ALWAYS best practice to report loose or aggressive animals to SMPD rather than try to approach them or contain them yourself. We are grateful for the alert members of our community who called 911 to report the violent and aggressive behavior of these two dogs. The Peninsula Humane Society also offers a resource library online full of information regarding animal behavior, leash laws, pet training, and related laws including what is defined as a dangerous or vicious animal.

http://www.phs-spca.org/index.html

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Robert Riechel

Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Mateo CA Police Department

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