Pine Bluff man mauled to death by group of pit bulls, one still at large

ARKANSAS -- The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office stated that a man was mauled to death by a group of pit bulls outside of CJ's Garage at 300 Thomas Road Saturday morning.

According to officials, the first deputy arrived on the scene to find 36-year-old De'Trick Johnson of Pine Bluff under attack from seven pit bulls.

When one of the dogs attempted to attack the deputy, he was forced to tase it. The dog wasn't fazed by the taser, so the deputy was forced to shoot it.

Reports state that more law enforcement along with Animal Control arrived on the scene to break up the attack. They killed three of the dogs and captured two. Officials are still searching for the one pit bull that escaped.

  

 

According to Pine Bluff resident Tom Calvert, his daughter drove up on the scene and saw Johnson attempting to fight off the dogs. She then called him to come for help.

"My daughter called, and she was upset saying 'Dad, come down to CJ's Garage! There's dogs chewing this man up," said Calvert.

Calvert told THV11, that as he drove up on the scene he saw one of the pit bulls charging at a deputy. The officer then shot the dog causing the rest of the pack to scatter.

"It's hard to describe, the man was just chewed up. The dogs just mauled him like a pack of wolves attacking someone," added Calvert.

THV11 on the scene with Pine Bluff resident Tom Calvert,
who witnessed the pit bull attack. (Photo: THV11)

Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports.

Quality Fence Co., next door to CJ's Garage, employee Roger Frazier claimed that the business owned the dogs, and kept them in a fence around the business to keep it from getting robbed.

His son, Joe Frazier, stated that the fence surrounding the business has an opening at the bottom making it possible for the dogs to escape. "I can't blame a man for trying to protect his property, but at least do what needs to be done to keep your dogs in."

According to Major Lafayette Woods with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, that based on previous warrants and complaints he expects that there will be charges made on the owner of CJ's Garage, John Chester Smith.

A sheet covers the victim's body by the fenceline

Police urge that if anyone in the area sees a loose dog, to call law enforcement or 911 immediately. The dog is described as being brown and white, weighing 60 to 70 pounds.

No one has been arrested in connection to Johnson's death, but Pine Bluff Police told THV11 News that the investigation is ongoing and collected evidence will be forwarded to the 11th Judicial West Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review and possible criminal prosecution.

(THV 11 - ‎Mar 21, 2015‎)