Owners facing felony charges in dog attack
The owners of three large dogs that seriously injured a jogger in Plymouth Township last month have been arraigned on multiple felony charges which carry 4-year prison terms.
Kelita Jackson Holland, 56, and Edward Alan Turner, 56, both of Plymouth Township, were arraigned May 8 before 35th District Court Judge Joseph Barone. Jackson-Holland faces four counts of dangerous animal causing injury and Turner faces one count of the same felony offense.
The victim, identified by police only as a 64-year-old man, suffered severe injuries in the attack and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He is still recovering from his wounds, police said.
The attack took place as the victim was jogging in the 12000 block of Canton Center Road at about 6:35 a.m. March 28. Plymouth Township Police received 911 calls reporting a vicious attack of a man by three large dogs. Callers told police the man had fallen to the ground and was no longer able to fight off the animals.
The dogs, two large cane corsos and a pit bull, charged at responding officers and prevented them from immediately helping the victim. Officers fired a warning shot to frighten the animals away from the man and one of the cane corsos was then captured at the scene. The other two dogs fled.
Police later located the other cane corso in back yard of a nearby home. Police reported that the animal again charged at them and was viciously aggressive during capture attempts forcing them to shoot the animal. The third dog, a pit bull, escaped capture for several days and was finally apprehended March 31 by officers in the city of Plymouth after a resident near Fairground Park notified police. Officers from both the township and city attempted to capture the animal, police said, but the dog again demonstrated aggressive behavior and charged at the officers forcing them to fire warning shots. One of the rounds struck the pit bull which had to then be forcibly removed from under a patrol vehicle by officers using animal control poles. The animal was taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment but died of the injuries.
“The failure to secure and control these dangerous dogs caused a violent attack of an innocent jogger,” said Plymouth Township Police Chief James Knittel. “This attack resulted in significant injuries to the jogger, who is still recovering.” Reports of the incident were forwarded to the office of the Wayne County prosecutor who filed felony charges against the owners.
Knittel said the actions of residents calling 911 probably saved the life of the victim. He added that the township department is "committed to holding dog owners responsible."
“The last thing in the world we want to do is harm an animal if we don’t have to,” Knittel said. “But at the end of the day, our job is to keep everybody safe.”
Barone issued Jackson-Holland a $75,000 unsecured bond and Turner a $25,000 unsecured bond and required both to wear GPS tethers and have no possession of animals, especially dogs. They are also forbidden to possess any firearms and have no contact with the victim. They each face a preliminary court examination of the charges on May 29.
