The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said that on Wednesday, at around 11:00 a.m., the UPS driver called 911 to report that he was being attacked by multiple pit bulls, and was bleeding badly.
The attack happened as the driver was making his delivery to a residence in the 15500 block of 116th Street E. in the Puyallup area.
When Orting Valley Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene, the driver was reportedly cornered by the dogs up against a trailer on the property that was located approximately 75 feet inside a locked gate.
A relative of the dog’s owner was at the location, but refused to unlock the gate, so the fire department rammed the driveway gate, drove to the victim and pulled him into their vehicle.
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Orting Valley Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Goodwin said he rammed a gate when someone at the house refused to open it.
The rolling chain-link gate in question is back upright now after the Fire Department crashed through it Wednesday. Pierce county animal control said 911 received a frantic call from a UPS driver that he was being mauled by four pit bulls. He said he was injured and seeking refuge atop a 4-foot trailer.
"I was pretty scared that he was going to get pulled off of the trailer," said Goodwin who was first on the scene. "He had a dog that was latched on pretty well."
But the big gate and someone at the property stood in his way.
He said, "I repeatedly asked the person at the gate if they would open the gate. They would not comply with what I requested and looked up again and decided it was time to go get him."
Goodwin took a Fire Department SUV and smashed through the gate and drove up to the UPS driver allowing him to slide through the open passenger window to safety.
He can't fathom why someone would try to stop him. "Never been turned down from someone when I'm attempting to help somebody."
"I honestly think that's kind of ridiculous," said neighbor Ariel Atkins. "Because he needed help. If he was up on a trailer trying to get away from these dogs, he needed some help."
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office and county animal control are taking a hard look at the case. Brian Boman, animal control supervisor, "If somebody is in the process of actually being attacked by animals and they're refusing aid and allowing us to intervene, that's one of those that's almost 'obstruction.' "
We are hearing from people who say they know the owner of the dogs. They claim the UPS driver should never have gone into the heavily fenced yard. They say there are 'beware of dog' signs, though KOMO News didn't see any. That doesn't answer the question of why the rescuers weren't let in.
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The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.
The victim suffered multiple bite wounds, including punctures and lacerations on his hands, arms, and legs.
Investigators recovered his boots and belt from the scene.
His boots were reportedly pulled off by the dogs during the attack, and he had attempted to use his belt to defend himself from the dogs.
Animal Control contacted the owner of the pit bulls and impounded his four dogs for a required 10 day quarantine at the Tacoma Humane Society. The dogs are being held in quarantine while it's decided if the owner will get them back considering the fact they were in a fenced yard - on their own property - when they attacked.
UPDATE TO STORY: Evidence photos reveal grisly
(WWWN - Sept 19, 2017)
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