Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Police: Oak Lawn man allowed dog to attack his mother

ILLINOIS -- An Oak Lawn man accused of allowing his girlfriend’s pit bull to repeatedly attack his mother this month remained in Cook County Jail on Monday on charges of domestic battery, battery, assault and resisting arrest, records show.

Jeremy F. Rusin, 21, of the 4900 block of 91st Street, also threatened a witness and bumped a police officer with his shoulder during the Jan. 4 incident, according to a police report.

The woman, 51, told police she was home with Rusin when he came out of his room yelling and in an agitated state, causing his girlfriend’s 75-pound pit bull to attack the woman, biting her on the arms and stomach.

Jeremy Rusin

Rusin initially tried to pull the dog away, but when the woman tried to run outside, he let the dog attack her again, police said. The woman told police Rusin did not want her to go outside, so he grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her back, causing her to hit her head on the wall.

When the dog started biting again, Rusin grabbed the dog, but after the woman made it outside, he let the dog go and attack her a third time, police said.

As a driver slowed down to see what was happening, Rusin swore and told the driver, “Mind your business and get the (expletive) out of here,” police said.

The mother was able to run to a neighbor’s house.

The witness called 911 and while talking on the phone, Rusin pulled up behind him in his girlfriend’s car, took off his shirt, walked toward the car and told the driver he was going to “kick his (expletive),” police said.

As police arrived, Rusin put his shirt back on and walked back to his girlfriend’s car.

Police said that when they arrested Rusin, he took an aggressive step toward an officer and shouldered the officer in the chest before falling to the ground and complaining of shoulder pain.

At the police station, Rusin refused to be fingerprinted, threatened a police officer and repeatedly banged on a cell door, police said.

Rusin’s girlfriend was told to take the dog to a shelter until further notice, police said.

Rusin is being held on $20,000 bail and next is due in court Friday, records show.

(Southtown Star - Jan 14, 2013)