"I saw the boy running by himself crying and screaming down the street, but I just thought he fell down or something," said Craig Weller, who was outside raking leaves when the incident occurred.
According to Richland County Dog Warden Dave Jordan, 7-year-old Darius Clark walked over to 323 Poplar St., just a few doors down from his home, to play with a friend.
"Apparently when (Darius) came to the door, the dog started growling at him, so a little boy who lives at the house came and grabbed (the dog) and the dog began nipping at him, so he let go of the dog and that's when he ran out and began to bite (Darius)," Jordan said.
Darius' grandmother, who came over to watch his siblings while his mother Melinda Clark was tending to Darius, said her grandson suffered a cut to the top of his head, the back of his head and above and below his eye.
She said plastic surgery might be needed because of the severity of his injuries.
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| This is why a catch pole should be used |
Erica Faulkner, Bradley's girlfriend, was home during the attack and was charged with failing to control a dangerous dog.
Jordan said no further charges will be filed.
The boxer named Max, 4 years old, will be euthanized at the request of his owners.
"(Darius) plays at their house often, but this is the first time something like this has ever happened," Melinda Clark said. "He's cut up pretty bad."
Weller, whose home is across the street from Bradley's, said police have been called multiple times for excessive barking.
Max was licensed, and reportedly never had attacked a person before.
"I've been doing this job for a long time," Jordan said, "and I wouldn't feel safe having this dog around children."
(Mansfield News Journal - Oct 9, 2012)
