Posted on 11/17/2003 5:21:40 AM PST by aomagrat
A 4-year-old was bit in the groin by a dog Thursday and his 28-year-old cousin is accused of letting the dog bite the child.
Robert Sims, of 2263 Morris Road, has been charged with animal fighting, said Capt. Barry Faile of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department.
According to an incident report from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the emergency room of Springs Memorial Hospital about 4:45 p.m. because someone there had been bitten by a dog. A deputy found the 4-year-old boy, whose left testicle had been ripped open.
Before he was taken to surgery, the boy told the deputy that Sims had “sicced” his dog on him. He said Sims held him and let the dog bite him, the report said. The deputy went to the Morris Road residence where the incident occurred and and talked to the 4-year-old’s grandfather. There were three other children at the home, and the deputy asked if anyone had seen the dog bite the boy.
A 7-year-old boy told the deputy that Sims held the 4-year-old and let the dog bite him. A 6-year-old girl told the same story.
The deputy went to Sims’ home, another Morris Road residence, and talked to Sims’ father, who told the officer Sims wasn’t home, the report said. Receiving permission to search the home, the deputy found Sims hiding behind a shower curtain in the bathroom.
The boy had been discharged from Springs Memorial Hospital by Friday afternoon, a nursing supervisor said. Capt. Barry Faile said the boy had no other injuries and was only bitten in the groin area.
Lancaster County Assistant Solicitor Doug Barfield said animal fighting is a felony and carries a five-year prison term. Part of the statute covers dog against human fights, Barfield said.
Sims was arrested Friday afternoon. He is being held at the Lancaster County Detention Center on a $10,375 surety bond.
Lancaster County Animal Control confiscated the black and white dog, Animal Control Director Ronnie Broome said. According to the incident, the dog was listed as a pit bull, but Broome said it is a mixed breed, possibly with some pit bull blood. Broome said the dog appeared friendly at the animal shelter.
Whether Sims gets the dog back is up to the court, Broome said. “We’ll have to keep it 10 days at least for quarantine,” Broome said. “He (Sims) probably won’t be able to get it back, but you never know.”
Justice would be better served to keep the perp in quarantine and put him to sleep along with the dog after his conviction and failed appeal.
Should have been attempted murder, aggravated assult,assult with a deadly weapon.
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