CAMPBELL Man IDs dogs he says attacked him
One dog bit the victim, another knocked him over -- then both began biting him.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CAMPBELL -- A 57-year-old Chambers Street man identified the two dogs he says attacked him Monday afternoon and severely injured his arms and legs.
John W. Lissi was in the rear of property he owns at 667 Devitt Drive, preparing to mow the lawn, when the attack occurred, said David Nelson, Mahoning County deputy dog warden.
Lissi told Nelson that one dog bit him and a second knocked him over, and both bit his arms and legs when he rolled into a ball to protect himself. The dogs weighed 40 and 60 pounds, said county dog warden Mike Fox.
Nelson said Lissi suffered extensive injuries to his right arm and puncture wounds and cuts on both arms and legs during the attack, which occurred at about 3:35 p.m. Lissi was in the emergency department until about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday receiving treatment, Nelson said.
Nelson said a neighbor, who heard Lissi yelling, came out of her house and screamed, and the dogs ran off along Robinson Road. The neighbor then went back into her home and called 911, and Lissi struggled to the protection of his van.
When the two dogs ran away, a third dog -- apparently a stray -- joined them, said Nelson, who tried to corner the dogs on Robinson.
Deputy warden attacked
One of the dogs, the stray, attacked Nelson and bit him on the corner of his boot. At that point, he tranquilized the dog with a dart gun.
A man drove up who said the other two dogs might be his.
Later, Nelson said he learned the dog owner had put his dogs into his truck and attempted to hide them at a carwash he owns at Madison Street and Robinson. Eventually, the man turned the dogs over to Nelson.
The three dogs were placed on a 10-day quarantine to observe them for signs of rabies. After the quarantine ends, if they are not claimed, the dogs will be killed, Fox said.
Fox said one of the dogs was a pit bull mix, and the others mixed breeds.
Nelson said Campbell Prosecutor Brian J. Macala will determine what charges to pursue against the dogs' owner. Nelson said possible charges include: no dog licenses, dogs running loose, causing serious physical harm, and tampering with evidence.
alcorn@vindy.com