Man Cited In Connection With Pit Bull Attack

INDIANAPOLIS -- Animal control officers cited a man after finding at his house what they believe to be one of the pit bulls that attacked a man last week, 6News reported Monday.

Officers found the dog at the Gray Street home of Marcus Johnson on Thursday, officials said. Earlier that week, authorities said, that dog and another pit bull attacked Ed Stanley, 61, in the 800 block of Gray Street, biting him and tearing at his leg.

Indianapolis police shot and killed one of the dogs that day, but the other pit bull escaped, officials said. Investigators talked to area residents and concluded that the escaped dog belonged to Johnson, according to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control.

Animal control officers impounded that dog and another pit bull that was at Johnson's home, officials said.

"The fact that (Johnson) did not claim responsibility for the attack immediately is completely reprehensible," said Steve Talley, the city's deputy director of public safety. "We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

Johnson was issued several citations, including two accusing him of being an owner responsible for an animal attack.

Authorities didn't say to whom they believe the slain dog belonged.

Stanley, a local landlord, said he was working on a property he had just bought when the dogs attacked him.

Johnson said authorities were making him a scapegoat.

"My dog has never made a move toward (Stanley), so I don't understand why they would take my dog or why they would say my dog was even in the attack," Johnson told 6News' Rick Hightower on Monday.

Johnson had been allowed to own only two dogs because of previous violations involving pit bulls, authorities said.

A court date has been set for June 25. A judge will decide the fate of the impounded animals.