ARIZONA — The parents of a girl injured when she was attacked by the family dog were arrested Thursday, a day after they allegedly concocted a phony story blaming the attack on another animal.
Michelle Nicole Phillips, 29, and Stephen Shane Phillips, 27, were arrested on suspicion of providing false information to law enforcement during investigation into the dog attack that sent their 5-year-old daughter to the hospital. Deborah Lorraine Holmes, 60, a family friend, was also arrested in connection with the case.
On Wednesday, police reported that a stray pit bull terrier mix had attacked a young girl as she and her mother were walking down the road in the 2200 block of Riverview Way.
Michelle Phillips told officers the dog bit the child on her thigh and attempted to drag her, but the girl’s father, Stephen Phillips, and uncle were able to fight the dog off but not before the dog bit the girl a second time in the face and then ran away.
The girl was taken to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center for treatment to her injuries and later released, according to Sarah Morga-Mangum, director of marketing at the hospital.
Animal Control officers were dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident and received information from the girls’ parents that the dog was a stray roaming the neighborhood.
Fromelt said stories from both parents were consistent, but as the investigation continued and Animal Control personnel searched for the “wanted” dog, questions into what really happen began to emerge.
“Our Animal Control and police officers spent several hours patrolling the area in search of the dog both on Wednesday and today,” said Fromelt. “The Animal Control officers spoke to numerous neighbors who advised them they did not see any dogs at large or witness the incident.”
One neighbor told authorities they heard a girl screaming, but it sounded to them as if it was coming from inside a nearby residence.
Fromelt said in addition to questioning neighbors, an Animal Control officer overheard the victim at the hospital crying that she never wanted to go to her “uncle”s” residence again. Officers discovered the “uncle” was a family friend who lived in the 2200 block of Riverview Way where the attack allegedly occurred.
“On Thursday afternoon, Animal Control officers spoke to a female resident at this location, who initially lied about the details of the event, and soon discovered the girl was bitten by Holmes’ son’s pet dog while inside the house,” Fromelt said. “They decided to lie to authorities about the bite being from a stray in fear of being cited.”
Fromelt said that the dog that bit the young girl was a BOXER / PIT BULL mix and was caring for newborn puppies.
“Had neither of them lied, they would not have been arrested or cited for the dog attack because the dog was current on its vaccinations and was licensed,” explained Fromelt.
The Phillipses and Holmes were taken to the Bullhead City Police Department on suspicion of false reporting, a misdemeanor, and later released from the station.
(Mohave Daily News - Feb 21, 2014)
Ironic isn't it? If the shit bull owners and the parents had just told the truth they would have gotten off with no charges and been allowed to keep the mauler. But that's the thing about pitters, they can't help but lie. Poor kid.
ReplyDeleteCull the man-biters (and their puppies)!
ReplyDeleteCull the man-biters (and their puppies)!
ReplyDelete