Crime & Safety

Man ‘Sics’ Pit Bulls on Police Officers

The dogs didn't attack, but Lakewood residents now face charges.

When police responded to an Elmwood Avenue home for a report of noise in the early morning of April 12, a Lakewood man ordered his two pit bulls to attack the police officers.

But the dogs didn’t attack, and the man was arrested. 

David Wright, of 1412 Elmwood Avenue, was charged with disorderly conduct, aggravated menacing and keeping a vicious or dangerous dog.

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He was found guilty of keeping a vicious dog in  on April 13.

chief Timothy Malley said that the officers weren’t injured during the incident.

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“Officers told residents to turn down TV which they refused to do, (then ordered) the officers to leave or their two pit bulls would be released on them,” he said, adding that two others in the home also face charges.

Just days before the incident, animal control officers determined that Wright owned pit bulls. A hearing was set for May, said Lakewood Law Director Kevin Butler.

But that turned out to be unnecessary, because Wright was found guilty April 13 of harboring a dangerous/vicious animal stemming from the April 12 incident.

When officers returned to Wright’s home, they also found two pit bull puppies. All four of the animals were taken to Wright’s mother’s house in Bay Village.


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