Joel Cronk II, 24, said he thought his friend had called him over to "squash the problem" that had the two not speaking for the past six months, but moments after he walked through the door, the problems were amplified.
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| Joel Cronk II talks about the night he was attacked by two people and a dog at his apartment on Thursday, May 22, 2013. Cronk said he is an animal lover and the whole experience has changed the way he views both people and dogs. "I know dogs aren't violent," he said, "It's just the way they're raised." |
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| Joel Cronk II of Saginaw has to stay off his feet for two to four months due to a dog attack. Doctors told him that there may be a risk for amputation if his left leg gets infected. Cronk said when he went over to a friends' house to speak with him about a fight they were having, his friend and another person assaulted him before siccing the dog on him. "I didn't care about the punches," Cronk said. "I just cared about the dog bites." |
Cronk said his friend, a Saginaw man, was carrying a handgun. Another man was also inside the house on Mershon near Weiss in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 18.
They had a drink together before the situation turned sour.
The resident "wanted to fight," Cronk said.
The resident held a gun to his head, Cronk said, and the three men and the resident's dog went outside, where a scuffle began.
Cronk and the resident, who owns the dog, fell to the ground while fighting, and the man made a noise like "sssic," Cronk said. Within seconds, the dog's teeth were sunk into Cronk's calf, he said.
The fight continued, Cronk said, and he felt fists hitting him while the dog, a pit bull-type breed, "shredded" both of his calf muscles with its jaws.
"I didn't care about the punches," Cronk said, "I only cared about the dog bites because I could feel them causing damage."
The dog left gashes in both of Cronk's legs and also bit his armpit and arm, which Cronk said he raised to protect his face.
Once the fight was over, Cronk called 911 right away and told them he needed an ambulance. Police responded at 2:58 a.m. and temporarily detained the resident as paramedics helped Cronk into an ambulance.
"I couldn't walk," he said.
Doctors gave Cronk pain medication and antibiotics, and he has had two surgeries to repair the damaged muscles. Doctors told Cronk some of the tissue had to be removed and said the leg injuries were potentially life-threatening. Doctors said he should not get his legs wet during recovery and said the injuries could require amputation if they become infected.
Cronk said he spends much of his free time skateboarding at skate parks in Saginaw and surrounding areas and wonders how the injury might affect him long term.
Doctors told Cronk that his tendons and muscles were damaged, and he won't be able to walk without assistance for up to four months. Doctors told him he will be able to skateboard again next summer, but Cronk is not confident that his wounds will heal enough for him to reach his current skill level of jumping onto handrails and doing tricks off ramps.
Cronk said he can't put pressure on his left leg, but doctors want him to move around to reduce the risk of blood clots. He does flex exercises to move his legs, which are covered in bandages that become soaked in blood and have to be changed daily.
On Cronk's 25th birthday, Monday, June 3, he has an appointment with a doctor to check if his legs are healing properly. Cronk said he should know on his birthday whether or not amputation is needed.
Police are investigating, and Cronk said a detective told him last week that they are attempting to secure a warrant for felonious assault because he said the resident held a gun to his head.
On Friday, May 24, police said they had a suspect in the case. Police referred followup questions to the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office, which did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Animal control officers picked up the dog, Casper, last week. The dog is now detained at the Saginaw County Animal Care Center.
Cronk will attend a hearing on Wednesday, May 29, that will determine the dog's future. He said he feels the dog should be put down because it has been trained to attack.
Saginaw County Animal Care Center Director Kevin Wilken siad the hearing could determine that the dog is euthanized or given back to its owner, with or without restrictions.
Cronk, who said he has always been an animal lover, now has a different outlook about dogs and about people.
"Don't underestimate people. Don't underestimate animals," Cronk said.
The problems between the two men were over "petty things," Cronk said, and he could not identify a single issue or event that led to their falling out.
"I never thought him and me would get in a fist-fight, let alone that he would talk to me with a gun in his hand," Cronk said, noting he had been friends with the resident since eighth grade. He said he doesn't want to speak with the man again, but added, "if he wants to call me to apologize, then he can give me a call."
(MLive - May 29, 2013)
