It was an investigator with the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office who was there to serve Lewis with papers. Lewis said the papers were being served because she is to be a witness in a case where her home had been burglarized.
“He knocked so hard, the door came open,” Lewis said.
Two of her dogs — a pit bull mix named Izzy and a small Pekapoo — ran toward the door of the home in the 200 block of S.W. Elmwood.
“I was not too far behind,” Lewis said. “I was almost to her when he shot her.”
“It all happened so fast,” Lewis said. “I caught her before she hit the ground. She died in my arms.”
The investigator moved away from the house and made a telephone call. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance was on the scene, as were several Topeka police officers.
Lewis said the investigator apologized to her for shooting Izzy, and Lewis apologized for the dog biting the investigator.
Then, Lewis read a Topeka Capital-Journal story. Police had said the dog was mauling the investigator, and Lt. Joe Perry had said the investigator was bitten multiple times.
“I’m getting really angry because they aren’t telling the truth,” Lewis said.
Lewis received three tickets, including one dog-at-large citation and another for a vicious dog.
“I plan to go to court and fight it,” Lewis said.
Izzy had been tested recently for rabies because there was an incident a few weeks ago where she bit someone on the backside, Lewis said. However, no charges were filed, and Izzy doesn’t have rabies, Lewis said.
When Izzy bit the investigator Wednesday, she was “doing what dogs are supposed to do,” Lewis said, which is protecting their home and owners.
Lt. Dean McWilliams referred all questions Monday to the district attorney’s office. Matt Patterson, senior district attorney, confirmed Monday an investigator was bitten.
“The investigator did sustain injury and is in the process of recovering,” Patterson said. “At this time, I cannot comment on any additional details as the matter is currently under investigation by the Topeka Police Department.”
Topeka Municipal Court shows two pending cases against a woman named Corrie Lewis for a dog running at large — one in August and one in September. The Capital-Journal wasn’t able to confirm if the women are the same person.
Izzy was 5 years old and belonged to Lewis’ son, London, who now lives in Florida. Lewis’ younger son, who is 11, witnessed Izzy’s death.
“My oldest son is very angry,” Lewis said. “It was hard to tell him.”
On Lewis’ Facebook profile page, she described how important Izzy was to her family.
“She was our best friend and part of our family,” Lewis wrote. “She will be missed daily. God bless you Izzy!”
WHAT THE POLICE SAY:
Lt. Joe Perry said Saturday the investigator was attempting to serve papers on a homeowner in the 200 block of S.W. Elmwood when the door opened and the dog charged out at him.
“It started mauling him, so he shot it,” Perry said.
(CJ Online - Oct 27, 2014)