The owner of four dogs that attacked a man and left him hospitalized was charged on Wednesday with multiple crimes.
Police filed 16 misdemeanor charges against Virgil Mitchell III, including allowing his dogs to run at large and failing to have them vaccinated, 10TV's Danielle Elias reported.
Mitchell turned himself into police on Wednesday afternoon.
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Four Cane Corso Mastiffs were caged on Wednesday, being held at the Delaware County Animal Shelter.
Police said they attacked a 67-year-old man while he was walking near the intersection of London Road and South Washington Street.
James Bright Jr. was flown by medical helicopter to Grant Medical Center in Columbus after the attack and remained hospitalized Wednesday night, Elias reported.
Bright's son, Michael Bright, said his father is still shaken by his injuries.
"He has over 31 staples in the back of his head (and) broke his right leg," Bright said. "He has so many puncture marks from the bites."
Michael Bright said he grew up on the street where the family of the dogs' owner lives and said while the family wants the owner punished; their main concern is their father.
"Dad's a real strong man," Michael Bright said. "He ran everywhere, walked everywhere. And, pretty much that part of his life might be over."
Neighbors said they fear a child from a nearby school could face an attack.
Court records showed that Mitchell had been cited eight times from 2002 to 2008 for violations
that included allowing his dogs to run at large and failing to immunize them for rabies.
Neighbor Josh Davis said earlier this year another one of Mitchell's dogs sunk his teeth into
his arm.
"I was lucky to even get that one off me," Davis said. "I couldn't imagine having two or three or four attacking me at the same time."
Bob Spencer, who lives in the area, said he relies on a motorized wheelchair to get around. He said he is afraid of an attack, since he is unable to outrun or outfight the dogs.
"If the dog would rush all of a sudden, I know the chain would break," Spencer said. "Because they're huge, they're big dogs and it scares you."
A court date for Mitchell has not yet been set.
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Previous Stories:
October 6, 2010:
Delaware Man Uses Car To Stop Dog Attack
October 5, 2010:
Charges Expected Against Owner Of Dogs That Attacked Man
October 5, 2010:
Man Hospitalized After Being Attacked By Dogs
