Dallas Hill, the former chief, was cited for letting the dogs run loose, according to St. Clair County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hundelt. Two German shepherds owned by Hill attacked an 8-year-old girl at about 6 p.m. Thursday in the 300 block of South Clinton Street, authorities said. The girl is being treated for several bite wounds. She was rescued when a neighbor took a baseball bat to the dogs.
Hill could not be reached for comment.
New Athens police say the dogs are Hill's personal pets and are not working as police dogs. An officer who answered the phone Friday at the New Athens department said the department hasn't been able to verify if either dog had ever received formal police-dog training.
Hundelt said animal-control officers have quarantined the dogs.
The New Athens police force asked the sheriff's office to investigate because of a possible conflict due to Hill's ties to the department. Hill is on administrative leave while his criminal case is pending.
Hill, 27, was charged in November with two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft over $500. Hill allegedly took an iPad and iPod from the police evidence room.
(STLtoday.com - Jan 11, 2013)
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