Sgt. Carl Walter, a veteran of the Willows Police Department, jumped between two dogs attacking Tamera Hanni, 48, in the backyard of a North Lassen Street home around 6:30 p.m., before he drew his gun and fired.
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| Hanni used this shovel to keep the pit bulls away from her |
The dogs were described as a male Pit bull and a female Pit bull - Bulldog mix.
"(Walter) did a good job," said Willows police Chief Bill Spears. "He didn't go there intending to use his gun. He tried to dissuade the dogs from their attack, but they wouldn't stop."
Hanni's neighbor, Penny Thompson, says she "heard her screaming and so I came out and she was yelling 'Help me, help me. Somebody help me. Please help me.'"
Hanni was pinned against the backyard fence, and was trying to defend herself with a shovel when Walter responded to the 911 call from Penny Thompson.
As Hanni continued to try and push the dogs way, they continued to lunge and bite at her and the shovel, Spears said.
Walter first pulled his baton and yelled at the dogs to try to draw them away from Hanni and toward him.
Walter continued to poke his baton in their direction, until the dogs finally released hold of Hanni's shovel.
The dogs then moved a few feet away from Hanni, but continued to growl at both of them.
Walter attempted to move Hanni behind him, but she stayed frozen in her position next to the fence.
When both dogs squared off and turned as if to attack Walter, he moved between Hanni and the dogs, and when he felt he had a clear shot, he pulled his gun and fired, Spears said.
One of the dogs was struck multiple times and died immediately.
The second dog was wounded and fled to a nearby residence, where it was captured by Glenn County Animal Control.
Although shaken by the attack, Hanni was not injured, Spears said. Walter was not injured either.
Because it was an officer-involved shooting, Spears has asked the Glenn County Sheriff's Department to conduct the shooting investigation.
It also will be the Sheriff's Department that will decide if the owners of the dogs will face charges.
The pit bull resided on Shasta Street with its owner, Edvarda Navarro. The female mixed breed was owned by Victoria Hogan, who lives in west Willows.
One of the dogs had a prior history of aggression, sheriff officials said.
When asked whether or not she thought shooting the dogs was justified, Thompson replied, "Oh, definitely. He had to. He had to to save her life and maybe his own because those dogs were vicious."
(Appeal Democrat - March 24, 2012)