Victim of attack by dog recovers

Staff report

Warren

Lonnie R. Culver of Scott Street Northeast was released from ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital Thursday evening, but the fate of his left arm won’t be decided until next week, when doctors reassess his injuries.

Culver, 46, was attacked Wednesday by a pit bull at his home. Major C. Beckwith, 60, of Warren is accused of ordering the dog to attack during a dispute over $10.

Culver said he was apprehensive about returning home to the site of the attack but was amazed by many notes wishing him well on his door.

“On a scale of one to 10, the pain is a nine or 10,” said Culver.

He said doctors didn’t stitch his wounds, so they would drain. Culver said the wounds have an odor.

On the day of the attack, Culver said he told Beckwith to come back the next day to collect the money. Beckwith is accused of trying to enter his home through a side screened window.

“I went out to see what was going on” and Beckwith said ‘attack!’ to the dog,” said Culver.

The dog bit Culver in the back, legs, arms and eye.

“I thought I was going to die,” he said. “The dog went for my jugular; that’s how he got me in the eye. I tried to punch the dog, he bit my knuckle. I remember kicking and kicking him. I asked him to call off the dog.”

Culver eventually was able to run into his home and slam the door.

Police said Culver was bleeding heavily from his face and arm when they arrived.

When police located Beckwith and his dog on nearby Porter Street Northeast, the dog had blood on his head and shoulder-back area, and Beckwith had blood on his clothing.

The dog didn’t have up-to-date shots and was taken to the Trumbull County Dog Kennel for a 10-day quarantine.

Beckwith was arrested and taken to Trumbull County Jail. He pleaded innocent Thursday to felonious assault and is in jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. He returns to Warren Municipal Court at 2 p.m. Sept. 12.

In May, Warren police cited Beckwith for failing to carry vicious-dog insurance, a misdemeanor.

Ron Simone, pound keeper, said when a dog bites someone, it is deemed vicious and euthanized.

“It’s a shame,” said Culver, of the dog’s fate. “It wasn’t the dog’s fault. It’s the owner’s fault.”

One neighbor wonders if the attack could have been avoided.

George Papalios said he called city police because he saw Beckwith hanging around and entering an abandoned house on Porter Street Northeast.

If the police “would have handled him then, the attack wouldn’t have happened,” said Papalios.

Police records show a call came in July 3 alerting authorities to suspicious activity at a vacant home. It is noted that police found the house unsecured but empty.

Papalios said he often saw Beckwith sit on the porch of the vacant home and behaved as if he lived there. At his arrest, Beckwith gave police an Oak Knoll Avenue address.

Culver said he also believed Beckwith was homeless — and he occasionally brought food to him at Packard Park.