Midvale man charged in pit bull attack on victim in wheelchair

First Published May 22 2012 08:38 pm • Last Updated May 24 2012 11:00 pm

Prosecutors have charged a man who allegedly ordered his pit bull to attack a victim in a wheelchair.

In charges filed Tuesday, police wrote that the man in the wheelchair confronted the dog owner on May 15 at 1820 S. Main St. in Salt Lake City. The dog owner had the victim’s cell phone and apartment key, and the victim asked for those items to be returned, police wrote.

Instead, the dog owner twice ordered his pit bull to sic the man in the wheelchair, police wrote.

The pit bull attacked the man, biting him in the stomach and knocking him to the ground, police wrote. The dog also bit the man’s arm, removing a piece of flesh and muscle "the size of a large marble," police wrote.

Police have said the dog owner claimed he ordered the attack because the victim was chasing him with his motorized wheelchair.

The dog owner, a 23-year-old Midvale man, was charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault.

Erin Alberty

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