MISSOURI DEPUTY BRIEFLY DRAGGED WHILE INVESTIGATING DOG MAULING

A Jackson County sheriff’s deputy was assaulted Saturday afternoon by a mother and son trying to flee authorities after their dogs mauled another dog to death, authorities said. Sheriff’s deputies and an animal control officer were called about 3 p.m. to an area north of U.S. 24 Highway and Kentucky Road. A resident in the 1500 block of North Osage Trail had called to report that his dog was getting attacked by two pit bulls, said Sgt. Ronda Montgomery, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.

Upon arrival, the officers found that the caller’s dog, an English springer spaniel named Sara Lee, dead. The two other dogs were gone, Montgomery said.

The caller told authorities that the two dogs had run onto his fenced property and began attacking his dog, Montgomery said. He also said that he tried to kill the dogs by firing a gun at them, but was unable to stop them from killing his dog. The two dogs reportedly ran home.

The officers then went to a nearby residence where the dogs reportedly lived. They found a 41-year-old woman trying to drive away with her 16-year-old son and one of the dogs, Montgomery said. One of the deputies tried to stop the woman, and a fight ensued between the two. The woman then drove her car in reverse, briefly dragging the deputy, who is a 10-year veteran of law enforcement, Montgomery said.

As the car lurched backward, an animal control officer was nearly struck by the car before jumping out quickly from its path, Montgomery said. After the car stopped, the 16-year-old son came out of the car and assaulted the deputy, she said. The deputy and animal control officer were not injured, though an ambulance was called as a precaution, Montgomery said.

Both suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The woman was taken to Jackson County Detention Center where she awaits charges, and her son was taken to a juvenile detention facility. The dogs were removed by animal control.