The incident happened Wednesday, April 5 at around 11:32 a.m. An Ocean Pines police officer was dispatched to Beaconhill Road for the reported dog bite.
Upon arrival, the officer located Mary Christine Ernst, 52, of Ocean Pines, sitting on her front steps with a towel around her left leg. The responding officer checked her injuries and noticed two long deep lacerations in her left calf with bleeding, a puncture to her right upper arm and scraped knees.
It appears two Pit Bulls had gotten out of a fenced-in gate, according to police. Jones said he managed to get a Pit Bull dog known as “Manny” off of Ernst by kicking it.
But “Manny” then ran into Jones’ attached garage and attacked his 7-year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog.
Armed with a shovel, Jones chased the two Pit Bulls back onto their deck and secured the gate.
Ernst was transported by Ocean Pines EMS to Atlantic General Hospital. Police said “Manny” had attacked the 52 year-old woman, her American Cocker Spaniel and the neighbor’s seven year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog. The Worcester County Animal Control was requested to respond to the scene.
The pit bull was turned over to the Worcester County Animal Control to be euthanized.
Ocean Pines Police Department contacted the dog owners, Robert Leo Riden Jr, 47, and his wife, Geri Riden, 46, both of Ocean Pines. Mr. Riden told police he pulled the sunroom door shut, but may not have shut it all the way. Mr. Riden stated that he had renters insurance.
Mr. Riden was cited for a leash-law violation and was given two $100 Uniform Civil Citations.
(SBYNews - April 11, 2017)
